Bro, you gotta know that June 9 is a historic day, man! In 2018, Simona Halep, our girl from Constanța, brought home her first Grand Slam at Roland Garros. She lost the first set to Sloane Stephens, but then she woke up and came back like a lioness: 3-6, 6-4, 6-1. And she took 2.2 million euros and 2000 WTA points. Now that's a performance, not like me struggling to scrape together gas money for my 2008 BMW! Halep started tennis at age 4, coached by Ion Stan, and had Justine Henin as her role model. Now, at 36, she's ranked 18th in the WTA - way to go, my girl! Mioara says Brian could play tennis too, but he prefers FIFA on the console.
But let's not forget that on June 9, 1848, the Proclamation of Islaz was read, written by Ion Heliade Rădulescu. Back then, the boyars were pulling the strings, and the people demanded freedom, abolition of privileges, and secularization of monastic estates. On June 15, over 30,000 people gathered on the Filaret Plain. And now? Same old story: the boyars (today's ones, with villas in Pipera) are still robbing us, but at least we have the right to vote, right? Useless, because we end up crying at Fane's terrace anyway.
And hey, also on June 9, 1856, Vasile Alecsandri published "Hora Unirii," which became the anthem of the union of Moldavia with Wallachia. The music was by Alexandru Flechtenmacher, and the piece was sung on January 24, 1859, when the Union was made under Cuza. What times, bro! Now the only things uniting us are price hikes and political scandals.
And also on June 9, 1874, the first hot air balloon with passengers flew over Bucharest. "Mihai Bravul" was brought from Paris by merchant M. Villemont, and on board were journalist Grigore Ventura and Villemont. They took off from the Metropolitan Garden and landed 45 km away, after an hour. Imagine that! Now you're not even sure you'll reach your destination by plane, with all the delays.
On June 9, 1870, Charles Dickens died, the guy with "Oliver Twist" and "A Christmas Carol." He fought for the poor, inspired by his tough childhood. We Romanians are still poor, but at least we have holidays and sarmale on the Christmas table, right?
And also on June 9, 1912, Ion Luca Caragiale left us, the father of Romanian comedy. He was born in Haimanale, Dâmbovița, and left us "A Lost Letter" and "Conu Leonida." Caragiale would have written comedies even today, if he saw what our politicians are doing!
On June 9, 1963, Johnny Depp was born in Kentucky. He dropped out of school at 15, met Nicolas Cage, and got into film. He starred in "Edward Scissorhands" and "Pirates of the Caribbean." He was nominated for an Oscar. I watch his movies on my computer because I can't afford the cinema, but at least I have popcorn from Lidl!
And Prince Nicolae of Romania, son of Ferdinand and Queen Marie, was born in Sinaia and died on June 9, 1978, in Lausanne. He was regent between 1927 and 1930, guardian of Mihai. His remains and those of his wife, Ioana, will be brought on November 15 to Curtea de Argeș, the Royal Necropolis, according to Archimandrite Caliopie Ichim. We'll see if that happens, because around here it's all campaign promises.
On June 9, 1598, Michael the Brave signed a treaty with Emperor Rudolf II at Dealu Monastery. He recognized the emperor's suzerainty but received subsidies for his army. That's how things were done back in the day. And on June 9, 1815, the final act of the Congress of Vienna was signed, and in 1934, Donald Duck appeared, created by Walt Disney. So, on June 9, we've got it all: from tennis to revolutions to cartoon ducks. Alright, I'm off to tell Mioara to heat up the sarmale, because I feel like a barbecue, but she says we don't have money for mititei!
