Rant #1,845: R-E-S-P-E-C-T

On Monday, we celebrate Presidents Day, the day we honor our commander in chiefs from all eras, from George Washington to Donald Trump, everyone in between.

It is really a day that we honor the office of the presidency, and what it means to us as a nation.

When I was a kid, since Washington and Lincoln--two of our most important presidents--were born in the same month, we used to have two holidays, one for each of their birthdays.

I don't know how many years ago we combined them into one, single holiday, but it has been some time, that I do know.

So Presidents Day it is, and most importantly, it is a day of respect, a day that we look at all of our presidents, and the office that they have held, and give it the platitudes that it deserves ...

Even if we don't like a particular president.

So with so much venom thrown Trump's way by some, we honor the office on that day, but I don't think those dumping on him are going to give up their day off from work in protest of him being our commander in chief.

Heck, it isn't the American way, is it, even with all the crabbing?

I happen to have the day off from work that day, or, I should say I think I do. There is such turmoil at my workplace now that it has put the doubt in my mind, but we have had the day off every year since I have been there--going on 21 years--so I figure we have the day off this year too.

Whatever the case, if I have to, I will simply take the day off. My work can live without me that day.

My son just happens to be off that day, but my wife has to work.

Funny, her place gives her off on Martin Luther King Day, her bank is closed that day, but it is open on Presidents Day.

Go figure.

Oh, I did already.

The PC Police, even without their fearless leader in power anymore, still hangs over us.

Not to lessen the importance of Dr. King, but to have off on that day and not on Presidents Day reeks of political correctness, but heck, it is going to take years to outdo what has already been done.

One step at a time.

And while we are talking about respect, or the lack thereof, let me talk about my workplace again, which is as dysfunctional as it possibly can be.

Related to yesterday's Rant, I was told by the chief operating officer of my company that the company holding my former 401K plan monies rejected the new IRA that I set up with another bank because, well, they didn't accept that fact that it was an IRA that could accept electronic fund transfers.

With me in his office, the COO actually called my bank to make sure of the veracity of my claim, that the account was what I said it was. Evidently, the company sitting on my money did not recognize the account number that I gave as being legitimate, one that they could use to transfer my money to a valid account.

The bank assured the COO that everything was A-OK, and I was left feeling that if there was a hole to crawl in, I would have availed myself of it.

When I left work yesterday--I had to leave 45 minutes early to take my son to his work meeting 40 miles away from my house--I still did not know what was going on with my money.

I got home, and there was a call on my answering machine, from the bank holding my IRA.

I called them three times, I got disconnected three times. I slammed down the phone, and prepared to take my son to his meeting.

Then, with one foot out the door, the phone rang, and I picked it up, and it was the bank.

They told me that they were having phone problems, could not get incoming calls, and that they just wanted to tell me that earlier in the day, everything was straightened out, and that the money would be placed in my new IRA in the coming days.

They told me that the situation was rectified by mid-afternoon.

Funny, nobody told me at my work that everything was fine, and I went home thinking my money was still in limbo.

Nobody said a thing to me about the problem being taken care of.

So, whether talking about Presidents Day or my money, it all comes down to a matter of respect.

I cannot believe that some people today can be so disrespectful to the office of the president and to our president himself, and I cannot believe that my workplace continues to carry an attitude that if it does not impact the company specifically, and only impacts an employee specifically, it is not important.

It is a matter of respect, and has only led to turmoil, both on the national stage and at my workplace.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T.

It seems such a simple concept, but evidently, it is as difficult for some people to practice as it is for some people to say, "I'm sorry."

Have a good weekend, and speak to you again on Tuesday.