I‘ve opined once or twice on the observance made publicly today, which a bit of recent reading I’ve done tells me was only fully institutionalized in the late 1960s, despite less-formal observances in and by the United States prior to it. I’m minded that such is younger than my parents (and, if memory serves, even some of my cousins), and it’s not a hell of a lot older than my wife. She’s not (at the time I write this; who knows when you’re reading it?) an old woman, to be sure, so something less than a decade her senior is not, to my mind, especially ancient or to be revered on account of its age alone. (Indeed, there’re many things younger more deserving of laud and honor.) And my feelings on the matter have not changed overly much from a year ago or from four years ago (again, as I write this); I don’t think I’ve been obscure about them, truly.

The thing is, I’m not opposed to taking time off, as such. (I might not want to take a specific day off, and it may well be the case that I don’t do as well as I might with other days off, but that’s me and not necessarily a guide for others.) I’m not opposed to a formalization of time off, even if it is the case that those most likely to be in need of an extra paid day off are among the least likely to receive such a thing (something else about which I’ve opined at times in this webspace). I’m not opposed to the commemoration of historical events, although I am opposed to the lionzation of things that ought not to be lionized even as they ought well to be remembered across years. This year, given the timing and the work that I do as my day-job, I’m a bit more vexed by the specific observance than might be the case in other years, but I readily admit that so much is a personal concern, and while I value my personal circumstances, I know that few others will do so or should be expected to do so.

Again, I know I give more thought to this kind of thing than many people do. I give more thought to it than many people would think is good. They may be right who have told me, time and again over years, that I need to loosen up and lighten up about things. (Of course, it’s only the things about which they are loose and light that they think it’s okay for me to be so; the things I don’t care much about seem to occasion annoyance or more that I do not ascribe them the same importance…and there’re several observances that fall into that category, certainly.) But I cannot be the person I am and not do as I do, and there are enough people who show me they’re fond of who I am that I’m not entirely eager to change much of it. Some, sure, but not a whole lot, and certainly not at this point.

I’m happy to write to order for you! If you would like me to, fill out the form below, and we’ll get started!

Or you can send your support along directly, like reader All Tied Up in Knots did (thank you, ATUiK)!