National Holidays

It's been a while since my last post. I've been a little busy I guess.

Transition.

Today is labor day. Growing up, labor day meant only one thing to me - the end of freedom. Fairfax county, like many schools around here, starts their school years the day after labor day. So it was one last day to sleep in, or to go outside before 4:00. And even though it was a day off, it was for all intents and purposes a bad day, because of what lay ahead.

For much of the adult working world, Labor Day is just the opposite - a welcome day off. It is the island between July 4th, should it land on a weekday, and Thanksgiving (or Columbus Day if you're lucky and get that off.)

And then there are those of us in the middle - in colleges or universities who do not close for Labor Day. For us, Labor Day is just another day. Or really, it is a day where we get to complain about how we don't get a holiday.

Holidays in the US are like famous paintings. Everyone knows a few (Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, and Halloween) but after that not many people could tell you what the other ones are, what they mean, or why they even exist. What better example than labor day. You think the average American knows the significance of Labor Day? They might be able to tell you that labor means "uh...work or somethin..." but to John C. America, Labor Day is, as someone in my copyright class put it today, a good reason to not go to work and drink beer.

Now don't get me wrong, I would love to have a reason to not go to work/school and drink beer. There should be more of these. And so I suggest the following national holidays:

-August 14th: Take Your Work to Your Daughter Day. On this day, instead of bringing your daughter to work, you let them deal with your papers, calls, and anything like that, while you relax and play all day. Most affected by this day: large corporations, and that guy in your office who is the only one without kids, and shows up to work that day.

-February 29th: National No-Regrets Day. This is the day to do something crazy and stupid. The reason is that you will never have to look at a calendar, realize what day it is, and say "man, remember this day last year? I wrestled with a raccoon. That was dumb!" This is because the anniversary of that day won't come around for another 4 years, at which point (1) you will have almost forgotten, and (2) it will be National No-Regrets Day again!

-June 12th: National Double-Presents-to-Anyone-Whose-Birthday-is-Today Day. This one is pretty self explanatory. It is also my birthday. Enough said.

-November 16th: Robra Day. On this day people will cut down trees. It is the opposite of Arbor Day. Robra Day and Arbor day are not to be confused with May 19th: Harbor Day. On this day, people can either (a) go hang out and watch boats, or (b) house a fugitive. Their choice.

I have seen the future, and these will catch on. Time will tell.

Mad props to the Tribe football team for the big win last weekend. Go Tribe!