Rant #3,853: Turn Down Day

How was your Christmas Day?

My family and I ended up doing absolutely nothing.

Heck, we didn't even eat Chinese food for a good old "Jewish Christmas" celebration.

Nothing.

Nothing at all.

I did some work--no holidays for this supposedly retired curmudgeon--watched some TV, did some digitizing of my records, heck, I even slept later than normal--

But we ended up doing not much of anything.

Today is December 26, which in my family, means it is my sister's birthday ...

So happy birthday to her.

But it is also the first day of Kwanzaa, a holiday I knew about way before even many blacks did because of where I grew up, in Rochdale Village, Queens.

It is a celebration that was created on the West Coast, and it was originally tied into the nascent "Back to Africa" movement of the mid-1960s, when many blacks were pushing to move back to their roots in Africa, and primarily to Liberia.

Anyway, happy Kwanzaa to those who celebrate--

And beginning next year, December 26 will be a federal holiday, so federal workers will have Kwanzaa off, whether they know about the holiday or not, as part of an extended holiday celebration, not because of Kwanzaa specifically.

In England, today is Boxing Day, where Christmas revelers are supposed to give out any unwanted presents to those in need.

Personally, I never received a Hanukkah present I didn't need, but that is me.

So today, December 26, is a major day on the calendar, whether we all realize it or not.

For me, it is simply another day to do work, watch TV, and pretty much do absolutely nothing.

It would be a really significant day for me if I could really retire, but as they say, that ain't happening anytime soon, on December 26 or any other day.

So have a wonderful December 26, and a great weekend, and I will speak to you again on Monday, December 29, the last Monday of this less-than-glorious year of 2025.

2026 is coming ...

And notice that the last two digits of the year are the same as today's date.

26

Will the year turn out to be as memorable as today will turn out to be?

Who knows?