Not In The Mood
by Brendan Smith
Weirs Times Editor
I had planned to write a more serious column this week about how Independence Day has basically been canceled this year due to the coronavirus.
I was going to write about how parades and large gatherings have been called off. Fireworks displays are still going on in some places, but you have to watch them from the safety of your own home or, if you want a closer look, bring the family and sit in your car in a parking lot.
I was going to write about how this year we aren’t permitted to gather and cheer for our veterans in parades and thank them for their service in wars that helped preserve that independence.
I was going to write about how so many kids will lose out on that opportunity to understand more about the freedoms we have that many in the world do not and how precious those freedoms are.
I was going to write about how especially important that is this year after being inundated with social media and news stories about a few terrible isolated incidents that are framed in such a way as to make us believe that we are the worst country on the face of the earth.
I was going to write about how there will still be large gatherings of people around the country marching on July Fourth, not in parades to celebrate our precious independence, but demonstrating because they think America is such a horrible place to live.
But after much consideration I decided, why bother? I won’t be changing anyone’s mind. Some will agree with me, others will not. Most of us are getting tired of all of it anyway.
Instead I thought I’d try to write something funny, but I found I wasn’t really in the mood. So, I’ll just rerun this column from 2010.
Celebrating The Fourth – Taking The Fifth
This year I am celebrating the Fourth of July on July First.
Different towns around New Hampshire celebrate the Fourth of July on the Third of July and some even celebrate it on the Second of July.
It seems that since the Fourth of July falls on a Sunday, some people find it more convenient to celebrate it on the Third of July or even the Second of July.
I work a lot of weekends so, since Thursdays are pretty wide open for me, I’ve decided it’s more convenient to celebrate the Fourth of July on the First of July in my particular circumstance. Actually, Wednesdays are my easiest days but I thought celebrating The Fourth of July on The Thirtieth of June or the Eighth of July was a bit of a stretch.
In honor of the Fourth of July, which falls on a Sunday, the United States Post Office won’t deliver mail on the Fifth of July. In fact, the entire Federal Government is celebrating the Fourth of July on the Fifth of July. I have heard, from some of my friends who work for the Federal Government, that they will be doing their celebrating of the Fourth of July on the Fourth of July and may not actually celebrate it on the Fifth of July, the day they are supposed to.
Now, I am not one to complain anytime the government is shut down for an extra day, but the fact that some workers are taking advantage of the extra day and not celebrating the Fourth of July on the Fifth of July, like they are supposed to, just seems wrong. Maybe even a scandal in the making.
You won’t be able to do any banking on the Fifth of July either. I know this for a fact because a sign on the door of my bank reads: “Closed on Monday, July Fifth, to Observe The Fourth of July.” So, I guess, bank employees all celebrate the Fourth of July on the Fifth of July. If there are any bank employees I know who I see observing the Fourth of July on the Fourth of July, are there authorities I can report them to? These are the kinds of things that keep me awake at night.
Some will argue with me that we are really celebrating Independence Day and they are correct. Still, the exact date for Independence Day has always been pretty clear; just like New Year’s Day is always January First, unless, of course, it falls on a Sunday. Then we celebrate the first day of the year on the second day of the year which would, by my calculations, make January First, New Year’s Eve.
Anyway, it doesn’t really matter to me which day you celebrate the Fourth of July on. That is really the whole point of our independence; we can do whatever we want. You can even celebrate the Fourth of July on the Second of February, if that’s your choice. Just don’t expect me to show up for the barbecue.
So, here on the First of July, I wish everyone a happy and safe Fourth of July, whenever you decide to celebrate it.
Brendan is the author of “The Flatlander Chronicles” and “Best Of A F.O.O.L In New Hampshire”. His newest book “I Really Only Did It For The Socks -Stories & Thoughts On Aging” will be available later this year. Brendan has also entertained audiences around New Hampshire with his storytelling presentations. To find out more visit his website at BrendanTSmith.com