Not a Fan of Halloween

I don't like Halloween.

My mom wasn't a big fan either which may have had some influence on my lack of affinity for it. Now that I am all grown up, I can honestly say I don't like it. Part of my dislike comes from the idea that Halloween glamorizes evil things but there is one thing that bothers me more. It really creeps me out when people dress up and pretend to me something they are not. Actors do this all the time but it doesn't bother me because I know they are pretending. I go to the theater expecting to see people portray characters and they are on a far away stage or movie screen. With Halloween, people are dressed up and standing or sitting right in front of me. I don't know if they are pretending to be someone else or if this is who they really are and this is their moment to break loose. I find this unsettling.

It seems like Halloween gives people permission to break the rules of appearances and behavior and I am forced to accept it. I went to a public building yesterday where any other day I know I would have found professionals happily doing their job. But on October 31st they came to work dressed as a cheerleader, Elf, Graduate, Golfer, Punk Rocker, African Royalty, a Sheik, and a few others that I had no idea what they were trying to look like. It just didn't fit. These people looked ridiculous. It is one thing to go out at night and join in the Halloween tradition of treat-or-treating or attend a Halloween costume party but at work... there is no reason for it.

I am all about having fun at work or going to a party with friends but Halloween isn't one of those times where you will see me going all out. Talk to me about Christmas or the 4th of July! Those are my holidays no special clothing required!

My Favorite Holiday!

The 4th of July is my favorite holiday.

It has been since I was a kid. There is something about a good barbecue, parades, sparklers, hearing John Philip Sousa marches, and fireworks that I really enjoy. It is nostalgic, patriotic, and all-American. It is one of the holidays that all American's can celebrate together. Everyone can enjoy and appreciate this day because it isn't directly associated with a religious day, someone's birthday, or a made up day with Hallmark's support. It is something only celebrated by Americans for America.

New Year's Eve is also a holiday that everyone can celebrate but it really isn't as exciting in my opinion. We are acknowledging another year, getting older, and remembering that we are not achieving things in life that we wanted to achieve. No wonder everyone drinks too much! Plus it is always too cold to really have a good time. Even Labor Day is to celebrate the working man. We are all grateful to be able to make a living but celebrating working with a day off seems odd to me.

The 4th of July is the best holiday. One thing that strikes me is that we commonly call it the 4th of July. It makes it sound like we just picked a date in July to throw an annual summer party. It is Independence Day. For those who need a little history lesson... it is a celebration to acknowledge the day that our country proclaimed its independence from Great Britain, July 4, 1776. This year we are celebrating our 232 year of independence.

We have all heard the first part of the declaration, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." Who doesn't love that part? It sounds so good and makes you feel strong and proud to be an American.

But if you keep reading the document it gives a detailed list of why we are proclaiming our independence. It explains all the things that the King was doing to the people in the colonies and to the government that had been established. I think we all remember the Tea Party protest about taxes and the original desire to have freedom of religion. But when I was reading this list of reasons there was one that stood out to me, "He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people." It is hard to imagine this happening on our soil by another country. People's lives being ruined by another country is difficult to even grasp. We have had it good for a long time.

When the 9-11 attacks happened it sure was a wake-up call on how different our world is from other countries without freedom. Not all American's get along, believe in the same things, or have the same values, but we make it work somehow. We exist in the same places, go to work or school everyday, and for the most part function peacefully as individuals despite our differences.

Independence Day is something that all Americans can celebrate together-that in itself, is worth celebrating! It is a time for all of us to appreciate what we have, what it took to get it, and what it takes to maintain it.

Happy Independence Day!