And Then There Was One

It was that time of year again. The eleven of us joined together for our annual reunion party. This gathering had been happening for one hundred and fifty-four years. We didn’t all join the party at the same time. The founding members got together for the first time in 1870. One of us had been around for over two thousand years, but there was never anyone to join with back then. My three oldest friends joined me at different months of that year. What bonded us back then and continues to hold us together today is that we represent the core values people believe in.

Our gathering, which only lasts for mere seconds, occurs in the space between the departing year and the new one. It’s when we are free to socialize with members that live in the other months. We have grown in membership from four to eleven and I’m sure that number will increase as time passes.

One of our founding members is the first to leave but the last to go. Confusing, I’m sure it is until you view things from his perspective. New Year must leave our gathering first so the calendar can begin at the stroke of midnight. If he didn’t leave on time, the rest of the year would be late. He’s also the last to go because each year consists of 365 days which are individual parts of him. The New Year can’t start until his old self is completely used up.

The next member to leave the eleven by date is Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. He departs on the third Monday of every January. He is one of our newest members, joining our group in 1983 but his day wasn’t a federally celebrated holiday until 1994. His contribution to the civil rights movement is still being felt today.

If it wasn’t for our next member, who joined us in 1879, we would not have a group. Yes, I’m speaking about George Washington, the general who led our fight for independence and established this country with the help of many dedicated patriots. His birthday is February 22, but since Lincoln’s birthday is February 12 the two birthdays have been combined into Presidents Day.

The next member to leave is our good friend Memorial Day. He serves as a reminder to say thank you to all the brave men and women who fought and died in the United States Armed Forces. This member also marks the unofficial start of summer.

Juneteenth is the newest addition to our happy band of holidays. This holiday celebrates the emancipation of the last group of enslaved people held in Galveston, Texas, and the U.S.

Another of our founding members is Independence Day, or July 4th. We officially separated from England in 1776, but it wasn’t until 1870 that it became a holiday. This member is celebrated with parades and fireworks.

On every first Monday of September since 1894, The American Labor Movement has been celebrated. Labor didn’t have the rights it enjoys today until Unions forced the managing class by using strikes and other negotiating tactics to grant them workers’ rights. Labor has come a long way, but according to our colleague, it has much further to go.

On the 2nd Monday of October our next member is recognized. Several cultures have mixed feelings about this day. Originally called Columbus Day, it was meant to honor the man who discovered North America, but as we all know, the Indigenous people were here for centuries before Columbus. In some parts of the country, this day is called Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Until this dispute is settled, both names will apply.

November 11th is set aside to honor all veterans. It was originally called Armistice Day, recalling the end of World War I. That war ended on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. It was supposed to have been the war to end all wars, but we all know how that worked out. After WWII the name was changed to Veterans Day.

A day that will live in infamy if you’re a turkey belongs to our next founding member. Say hello and goodbye to Thanksgiving. I still don’t understand why this day isn’t celebrated in October like the Canadians do. It was originally started to celebrate the fall harvest and I’m sure that task was completed long before the end of November.

So that leaves me, Christmas. I have been here long before my friends and hopefully will be here until man tires of me. Until then, I’ll remain the last in line but have the most love to give.