Many days after the day on which we celebrate something special, we often look over our shoulder and ask, “Why? We did what? I spent my valuable hours doing what???” Like someone I know experiencing a hang-over, they moan the way they spent the day celebrating. I’ve never been tempted by those drinks and drugs that leave one gasping and declaring, “Never again!” however, I’ve been to work on many a Monday morning where that seems to be a standard utterance.
For many, that day after simply means another work day that has enough stress to squelch a heartbeat. Vacation, holiday, or even an emergency visit to the doctor, often means a load of life returns just like it was before that special day.
July 3rd was the anniversary of our wedding day, so every July 4th, you know, when folks are bent on exploding ordnance all around us, we are enjoying the fact of the start of our next anniversary period. You know. 364 days from now and we’ll be back to this date on the calendar doing the same thing all over again! There were a lot of social congratulations, but not one person called, and not one card was given, and there was not a party offered or expected. We ate dinner at a good steak house after work, went home and fed the animals, enjoyed a snack and then went to bed. Just another typical day. Not even the waitress said Happy Anniversary!
July 3rd was also the anniversary of the closing on our current residence. We’ve lived here longer than any other single address. 15 years ago we mortgaged (Latin = Death Grip) our future to pay off our house and we only have another 15 years to go! I’ve never burnt a mortgage to celebrate, but this may be one I’ll look forward to!
Some folks go crazy celebrating special days. Holidays. Birthdays. Death days. Marriages. Retirement. Even divorce decrees! I know someone who celebrates his near-death day by having a work party because it happened at work! 10 years ago, or so…
Why do we do this? It’s almost like the celebration of a milestone is more important than the day the original event occurred. I agree that it’s important to remember these milestones, and to share some of them with future generations, but why does everything require a big expenditure of dollars you shouldn’t spend and the after images of a wasted day thinking you were enjoying the moment!
Man. I’m treading some deep waters here!
Since our anniversary is in the middle of prime vacation calendared events, we will normally celebrate at a different time of the year, and make our vacation a celebration of the milestone. Let’s see… We’ve been to Scotland, England, and Iceland in March. Alaska (by cruise) in September. Hawaii (ugh…in July!). Along with these we’ve enjoyed many other destination points on the North American Continent. Even then, we normally celebrate way off season so it’s not as crowded or hot as a typical July can be, even if it means it may be cool, windy, wet, snow (Yes!), or a closed season.
You are often judged on how you celebrate the event, and then you have to join in with others as they celebrate their event. It almost seems like life is nothing but a big celebration! The truth of the matter? This is far from the truth! When I was in grade school (Seabrook, Tx) I remember how we were forced to bring a Valentine to every person in the class. Wait a doggone minute! Really? That ruined the celebration aspect of this day of sharing love to a favored individual, and I have mostly refused to be captured with giving chocolate that is often odd tasting, and flowers that were dead the moment a knife was put to their stalk, and trees converted to paper stock for the greeting card industry. If I want to show my love then I do not need a single day that everyone else is buying the same junk as everyone else!
Sorry. A little off the deep end there.
It’s like birthdays. You will miss church but you will not miss work. You’ll spend hundreds on the celebration and load up your credit card debt higher than you can afford, and then squeak out your food budget to pay for all those interest dollars you now owe. That event will cost you for months on end, and that’s just one of many!
Whoa! Where did that come from? Someone throw me a life ring…I’m drowning!
Let’s put this blog out of its misery. At least for those of you that have read this far and not disowned me! I’m just saying, you celebrate how you want, just don’t judge me if I don’t join your party, because I will never ask you to attend mine! I can do without the special attention and pick some future date of travel to say, “This is the way I celebrate! Antarctica anyone?”