Odysseuse on the Move

Sunday, February 18, 2007

February Defeats the Doldrums

doldrums a state or period of inactivity, stagnation, or slump

After the winter's cheerful holidays comes February with not much to recommend its usual boring status, although there are a few events to which some may pay attention. The Groundhog will or will not see his shadow, thus predicting the onset, sooner or later, of Spring. At mid-month red roses and Valentines make florists, retailers, and recipients happy. George Washington's birthday and Abraham Lincoln's birthday have morphed into one and given rise to Presidents Day, or Presidents' Day or President's Day: there are several opinions about that day caused by the absence or inclusion and position of the apostrophe. Every four years an extra day is added to the month; that 29th day turns romance upside down and gives the year its name: Leap Year.

February 2007 may become known for its unique combination of weather-related problems, and even disasters, inconveniencing millions here in the USA and breaking records from coast to coast, north to south. As if that weren't enough to wake us from the doldrums, the political season is upon us full blast and there is no escaping it. The pundits are baying. And so are some of the newscasters who bring us daily reports of the latest scandalous tragedies.

Oh, to have back the February of the first paragraph!