Too Many Holidays

Today is Secretary's Day. It falls right in the middle of National Administrative Week. It is a holiday week that is supposed to show gratitude to all employees from the people they work for. Not from the people they work with, because most of them feel over worked and underpaid and somehow that forms a camaraderie of it's own. Today, in my office, only one person acknowledged us. He gave us a card and candy. My office staff promptly hung the card in full view of everyone, almost shamefully, to inflict a little guilt on all of the others that forgot them. Somehow holidays and gift giving occasions have gotten out of hand. Retailers started to invent holidays to pump up sales through guilt. And it works. I understand the traditional celebration days of Birthdays, Anniversary's, Mothers Day and Fathers Day. Some holidays just go too far. In the month of April alone, we have Tell a Lie Day, No Housework Day, Golfer's Day and  Ex Spouse Day, just to name a few. At bridal showers, the groom-to-be comes in with flowers and a gift and all the ladies swoon. The best new reason for gift giving is when a woman gives birth. Her husband is obligated to give her a "Push Gift" or she will never live down the shame. Years ago, the baby was the gift, but somehow, I think a bunch of jewelers got together and coined the phrase "Push Gift". Every time I hear this phrase I picture the poor girl with her eyes scrunched and face beet red. It has now become a time to celebrate the birth of a child and the arrival of a new bracelet. In some circles, friends know the type of jewelry given, before they even know the babys' name. I would love it if people celebrated holidays and happy events for the joy of the day and with good deeds and kind words.