123 123

News has it that today is the day to get hitched if you’re into the marriage kind of thing. Why today? Well, it’s December 31st, 2023 and the last day of the year. Need something more? It’s 12/31/23… Still not there? It’s 123123 - 123 123. Apparently some folks with romance on their minds find that series of numbers auspicious. Granted that series of 123123 won’t happen again for another hundred years and the last time it occurred was in 1923. For the guys out there who have trouble remembering their anniversary date I guess it is auspicious as it probably doesn’t get any easier to remember than 123 123. If you forget that maybe you really shouldn’t be tying the knot tomorrow after all.

‘23 will soon be in the history books and some might say good riddance. There’s certainly some fond memories (especially if you scored tickets to see Ms. Swift’s concerts) but like most years there was a fair share of the bad to balance out the good.  After all this is Human history we’re talking about. What say we take a quick look back at some of what’s happened in good ole’ ‘23… See if you can tell which ones really happened:

On January 2nd Buffalo Bills Safety Damar Hamlin collapses on the field after making a tackle and needed to be resuscitated. After a remarkable recovery he would return to the football field in November.*

Mary Katharine Campbell is crowned Miss America.*

Ke Huy Quan wins the best supporting actor Oscar for his performance in “Everything Everywhere All At Once”.*

The first report on the Teapot Dome Scandal is published by the U.S. Senate.

In March the first former President to have ever been charged with a crime is indicted by a New York Grand Jury.*

The self-winding watch is patented and the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio is founded.^

The bloodiest war between Israel and Hamas begins.*

16 people die on the second day of the Beer Hall Putsch.^

The first Presidential address is broadcast on the radio in the U.S.^

Barbie becomes the highest grossing film of the year.*

Nepal gains independence.*

The “Fate of Frankenstein”, based on the 1818 Mary Shelley novel Frankenstein opens at the Royal Opera House at Coventry Garden. The author of the novel attends the only performance based on her work that she will ever see.

Hugh Glass is mauled by a grizzly and has to crawl 200 miles for help.

Bruce Willis is diagnosed with dementia and Rosalynn Carter dies after receiving a dementia diagnosis earlier in the year.*

Simon Bolivar is named President of Peru.

Southern California beats Penn State in the Rose Bowl 14-3.^

January sees the first penalty-free game played in the NHL.^

Time Magazine publishes its first issue.^

Time Magazine names Taylor Swift its Person of the Year.*

A great conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn, the closest between 1226 and 2874, occurs on July 16th.

So a lot has happened in ‘23. You may have picked up that not all of the above happened last year, but in fact they all did happen in '23... just not in 2023. Those with an * happened in the year just past. Those with an ^ indicates events from one hundred years ago: 1923. And if you knew Simon Bolivar, Hugh Glass and Mary Shelley hearken back to 1823 then you’re a true history buff. With your good memory, and you’re single, you might just want to take that marriage leap on 123123. For the rest of us, as the old adage goes, “the more things change…” 

Happy New Year!