|
Who knew April was the month to celebrate so many things? And you know what? We don't want to miss a single one. So... If you live in the United Kingdom, it's National Pet Month for you. Hopefully you've already started feeding your animals on command, carrying them from place to place like royalty, letting them sleep on your bed (or on your face)... which, come to think of it, is what happens every month of the year. So why - some might ask - do animals get a national month, when every month of the year is built around meeting their needs? (As I write, I have two dogs staring at me expectantly even though they've already been fed, walked and pampered. And I won't even get started on the cat...) So if you don't feel your pets deserve a month of your unconditional servitude, there's always National Grilled Cheese month if you follow the American example. Again, does something so beloved all year round really deserve its own month? We're not here to judge. Let's face it, though. Some monthly observances are easier to celebrate than others. It's not hard to imagine the concerts and tributes that will no doubt mark Jazz Appreciation Month. But Mathematics and Statistics Month? Maybe not so easy to celebrate. The odds are that jazz will be appreciated more openly than mathematics. That is, of course, if you study a representative sample and calculate the probabilities. Jazz might win by a fraction, unless you multiply and carry the one (and subtract the number you first thought of). If you're more right-brained than left-brained and maths isn't for you, here are two pieces of good news. Not only is it National Poetry Month, but also National Poetry Writing Month. So you get to read poetry and you get to write it. And out of respect for the hallowed month, other people are kind of compelled to read what you write. For all you know, you have a waiting audience ready to appreciate your poetry - but for a limited time only. So there you have it... thirty days to celebrate so many things. But wait, since we're living in South Africa, we need to factor in the public holidays. So - not to get too mathematical again - we need to subtract public holidays and extended long weekends and unofficial long weekends, plus days that just get cancelled because we have loadshedding, so it just isn't worth it. Hmm, suddenly this month feels very short and we've just got too much to celebrate. In which case, it all comes down to choices. Do you prioritise grilled cheese over jazz, or poetry over pets? Because what seems clear is that difficult choices need to be made. So have a great April and Happy... Whatever You Want It To Be. |