Holidays

I love holidays. I always have. I love this "magic" that seems to surround them. I love the traditions, I love the way people smile just a little bit more or are perhaps a little kinder. I love Christmas, I love Thanksgiving. I love the holidays that I have traditionally not celebrated, Jewish Holidays, Islamic Holidays. I find it comforting to know what certain days can be special and hold a place in our hearts. I'm one of those who looks up the weird holidays some guy in his basement made up. I ENJOY wishing people a Happy National Pawnbrokers Day on December 6 or Happy Ball Point Pen Day on June 10 (making NONE of these up!)
But then I get wary, because I wonder WHY do so many people feel the need to ONLY share their feelings of love and gratitude on certain days of the year? Then I get almost defensive towards myself, because if someone knows I love them and cherish them and that they enhance my life in a million ways every day and that I need them ONLY because I express this on December 25th or Thanksgiving or their birthday and that's it, then I'm sorry, I'm the most horrific friend/partner/daughter/mother on the face of the planet.
Truly, in the end its a day just like every other day. A day to be experienced, hopefully for the good. A day to take the bad and see what the Universe is holding out for me. A day to make sure that the people I love know I love them, the way I hope they know every other day. A day to make amends for my shortcomings and to embrace my strengths and see how I can hopefully help someone else. And if I can't, then hope against all hope that I have done no harm either.
So to whoever you are, wherever you are right now...Happy Friday and I love you. Just like I did yesterday. Just like I will tomorrow. Thank you for being in my life and for letting me in yours. Thank you for helping me build my fortress against cruelty and injustice that is sometimes doled out while also helping me to keep my heart open. Thank you for the advice, the shoulder to cry on, the hand to hold, the laughter to join in with and for wiping away my tears. Thank you on this magical day..magical because it's today and because it's only 7 hours old and there are still limitless possibilities to cling to...for loving me.