March 6

March 6th is among the most important days of any calendar year. This is a fact. Among the events of this day: 

• In 1912, Roald Amusden returned from the South Pole to announce his successful expedition the prior December. 
• Joseph Nicephore Niepce, the inventor of photography, was born in 1765. 
• Townes Van Zandt, the great Texan songwriter -- listen to Colorado Girl if you wish to break your heart -- was born in 1944.
• Thomas Aquinas died on this day in 1274. 
• And, Paul-Emile Victor, the French explorer who traversed Greenland in 1934, died on this day in 1995.

But, most importantly, it was the day Luke Smilek, my third nephew, was brought, kicking, screaming, and solving second-year calculus problems, into the world. Congratulations to my sister and beau frere, and hello Luke.