I feel like the average American knows more about Tu B'Shevat than they do about Labor Day. I can't tell you how many people I've talked to recently have mentioned something about soldiers in reference to this holiday. In fact, I'm pretty sure that the poster in the cafeteria where I work featuring the Labor Day menu has a picture of a soldier on it. As far as I know, it doesn't have anything to do with soldiers. That's Memorial Day.
I think.
Most people who work normal jobs are off today, enjoying a three-day weekend some place nice and sunny and warm. Maybe I'm just jealous because I'm putting in another eight hours at the funny farm, but isn't it kind of counterintuitive to give people the day off from work on a day that is designed to celebrate industriousness and, you know, work?
Shouldn't you be slogging away at your spreadsheets today? Shouldn't you be grinding those... gears a little harder today? Shouldn't you be swilling coffee at a meeting or drilling your secretary behind your firmly closed office door while your executive desk toys spin or twirl or smack their little silver balls against one another while you're slamming your balls against the back of her inner thighs?
Since my wife became pregnant, the idea of Labor Day sort of takes on a new meaning for me. Wouldn't it be fun if we celebrated the whole notion of procreation? Not Mother's Day-- that shit's different-- but a day devoted to going through actual, painful, vag-ripping labor?
The Russians do that shit-- sort of-- or, at least, they used to.
This is, in fact, a vintage Russian "Medal of Motherhood", Second Degree, that was ceremoniously awarded to, well, chicks who squeezed out some puppies. I don't know specifically what you had to do to earn the Second Degree designation for you and your womb-- maybe bust out a set of twins?-- but there it is. Wouldn't this be some kind of crazy country if we did that-- if that was our labor day?
I think it's kind of funny that the Soviet nation, where people ate potatoes and stockings for breakfast and thought that three-speed manual transmissions on the column was advanced automotive technology was awarding women for bringing more mouths into the world it could not afford to feed. You'd think they'd give women medals for not going into labor.
But, you'd be wrong.
As my brain turned to thoughts of some mustachioed man in a fur hat pinning a medal on my wife's coat for bearing twins, I then thought about "Days" devoted to other life events that people go through that might not yet be readily recognized by the calendar or the government:
* Tuberculosis Survival Day
* Motorcar vs Pedestrian Accident Avoidance Day
* Albino Chinchilla Adoption Day
* Correctional Officer Beating Day
* Getting Up from Chair Without Groaning Day
* Scissor Position Intercourse Day
* Gingivitis Awareness Day
* Awkward Silence Awareness Day
* Physical Comedy Day
* Protracted Conversation with Insufferable Neighbor About the Weather Day
* Offenbach Overtures CD Listening Session Day
* Jugular Vein Twitch Day
* Apathetic Sigh Day
* Frequent Urination/Overactive Bladder Day
* Belated Adult Circumcision Day
* Throw Up Because You Saw/Heard/Smelled Someone Else Throw Up Day
* Make Fun of Other Cultures Out of Ignorance &/or Fear Day
* Put Syrup on Absofuckinglutely Everything Day
Happy Labor Day or whatever. Enjoy your barbecue, I guess.
I just don't know anymore.
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