h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Romans 14:5
One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

I just recently noted my 9th Anniversary on HooToo. Yea, Toast! The realization I’ve been connected with you lot for that length of time gave me paws to think.

You know what I mean. I took stock of the investment in time and “sharing of myself” and noted the other long-term commitments I’ve had in my life. Twenty years in the Air Force; ten years at Callaway Energy Center; nine years on HooToo; and eighteen years married to A---. Which prompted me to look ahead to our 20th Anniversary in one year and four months. Is that long enough lead-time to plan something truly special? Lord, I hope so. We deserve ~something~ nice for putting up with each other for an entire generation!

Any other anniversary, I'd be debating with myself to celebrate or not. I'm the kinda guy who esteems every day alike, I’m afraid, and sometimes it distresses my wife. She loves to celebrate special occasions, usually planning everything down to a gnat's bum of detail; whereas I'm lucky if I remember to congratulate someone (even a family member) on the day of. A--- has helped me over the years to see the importance of celebrating achievements and commemorative days, especially in regards to honoring family on such occasions. We have both our sons graduating college (this time with BS degrees) on the same day and we expect to corral the whole family for this auspicious event.

I sometimes ask myself, “what makes this such a special day, anyway?” I mean, is it simply marking time, or do we really care? The obvious answer—the one that evaded me for so long—is it's important to the person celebrating it. Just because ~I~ don't see the reason for making a Big Production out of it, doesn't mean it's not personally important to the celebrant (the person who esteems one day above another). After all, this whole universe is set in motion and has its seasons. [Sing it with me: “Turn! Turn! Turn!” by Pete Seeger and The Byrds, or read it in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. * ] There is “difference” from one day to the next. And I am more convinced with each passing year there is a valid reason to note and highlight key events. Even God takes time to mention important occurrences in the scriptures; why shouldn't we also commemorate things that are meaningful to us?

Now, I'm not a big fan of “over-commercialization” for ~any~ occasion, because things just get silly when we concentrate on that rather than the ~reason~ we celebrate. Witness some of the comments in Journal Entries about the doings on Armistice Day, held only a few days before this posting. I believe we need to continually do a “check-up from the neck up” when it concerns our motivation on ~how~ we celebrate. Certainly, a nice gift of some sort—appropriate to the situation—can mean the world to the one receiving it. Have you ever noted how some people can track their entire history by showcasing meaningful gifts they've kept for decades? So, how elaborate should the gifts be? Not overwhelming to the point of being gaudy; meaningful enough to touch the heart of the one honored. “Re-gifted” McDonald's Happy Meal toys are right out!

Be aware there may come a time when a person has simply acquired “enough stuff.” In example, my Mom has taken to insisting we only send a card these days. For the Holidays, for her birthday, for any other yearly event the greeting card companies choose to push. I can see the efficacy of that. In a sense, it requires us to pause in our routine, reflect upon what the person means to our life, and then communicate it with words. And I'm certain all of us here understand the importance and impact our words can have. The sharing of our thoughts and feelings with another, especially someone close to us, is a loving expression of tender care. I can see this as even more important than showering someone with trinkets if there's no “heart” behind the gift-giving.

So...what have I learned over the years? Keep it meaningful; make it from the heart; commemorate because you value the life of the one to whom you're giving. Blessings will abound when we remember and give something of ourselves in the process of celebrating.

B4iaddyourspecialmoment2myOutlookcalendar



* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turn!_Turn!_Turn!

Happy hootooversay - and as for Turn, turn, turn, turn Mary Hopkin's version is my favourite, probably becasue my parents had a single with that apple symbol on it (Apple Records, that is)

I certainly agree with commemorating things that are important to ourselves. What sometimes annoys me is being forced to celebrate things I'd really rather not.

One of the funniest bits I remember seeing in a TV sitcom was in Jam and Jerusalem, which was called Clatterford in the US. Dawn French played a mentally disturbed women named Rosie with an alter ego/second personality. The vicar, very serious, was trying to read that passage from Ecclesiastes in church and Rosie would burst out singing, "turn, turn, turn."