The Month of February
When we think about it, the month of February, although short in terms of the number of days, has many events, milestones, celebrations and remembrances in which it marks.
In February, we celebrate Valentine's Day. Jews observe T'Shu Bat. This month is also a time when the Grammy Awards are announced, along with the academy Awards, and it is the month in which every four years, we are privy to the Winter Olympics. Mardi Gras has also kicked into action in New Orleans, a city which is beginning to recover from the devastation of hurricane Katrina last year. On a private note, my friend Kris is expecting her first baby. February is also known as a celebration of Black History month, and we observe the birthdays of two great American Presidents, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.
Lincoln birthday is actually February 12th., but it a observed as a federal holiday today for some of us. (the courts are closed for one.) Many of you may not realize that President Lincoln suffered from a mental illness, severe depression, which was present on both sides of his family. For those of you who admire Lincoln, there is an excellent book, Lincoln melancholy: How Depression Challenged A President and Fueled His Greatness, Joshua Wolf Sheck, which demonstrates how this extraordinary man harnessed his depression to fuel his astonishing success. Happy Birthday to Abe Lincoln. (and he was a Republican too.)
As some of these great events are marked, for me, February will also be a month marred by the passing of my beloved Astro, which has left me heart broken. Nevertheless, this is a month to honor many great people and a time for celebration of those unique events that are associated with this month.
Do you have a particular favorite day or moment in February?
Thank you for your minds.
In February, we celebrate Valentine's Day. Jews observe T'Shu Bat. This month is also a time when the Grammy Awards are announced, along with the academy Awards, and it is the month in which every four years, we are privy to the Winter Olympics. Mardi Gras has also kicked into action in New Orleans, a city which is beginning to recover from the devastation of hurricane Katrina last year. On a private note, my friend Kris is expecting her first baby. February is also known as a celebration of Black History month, and we observe the birthdays of two great American Presidents, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.
Lincoln birthday is actually February 12th., but it a observed as a federal holiday today for some of us. (the courts are closed for one.) Many of you may not realize that President Lincoln suffered from a mental illness, severe depression, which was present on both sides of his family. For those of you who admire Lincoln, there is an excellent book, Lincoln melancholy: How Depression Challenged A President and Fueled His Greatness, Joshua Wolf Sheck, which demonstrates how this extraordinary man harnessed his depression to fuel his astonishing success. Happy Birthday to Abe Lincoln. (and he was a Republican too.)
As some of these great events are marked, for me, February will also be a month marred by the passing of my beloved Astro, which has left me heart broken. Nevertheless, this is a month to honor many great people and a time for celebration of those unique events that are associated with this month.
Do you have a particular favorite day or moment in February?
Thank you for your minds.
31 Comments:
ooo! ooo! *jumps up and down with hand in the air* Here is one of my favorites from February:
In 2001 my partner and I made plans to go on a vacation – it was really the first REAL vacation I’d ever taken in my life! We decided on Placencia, Belize as our destination, and made plans for months. Our departure date was set for March 1st, 2001.
On February 29th, Seattle was hit with a sizable earthquake. Apart from all the wild, strange, and compelling stories I could tell you about my earthquake experience in a high-rise downtown Seattle that day, even more memorable was that the SeaTac Airport control tower suffered some damage.
After making it through one very long, bizarre, strangely exhilarating day, my partner and I were worried that above all – we wouldn’t make our flight out to Belize (so selfish, I know)!
Still, while we were delayed a day by coming in late to Houston, we made it out of Seattle alright. I’ll never forget that great send off from Mother Earth to one of the most wonderful getaways of my life! :)
Wow!
That was qiite an experience, jlb..!!
Hello Barbara, I was really sorry to hear that Astro is gone.
At least he had a good long life, and was dearly loved.
February is usually the time here when the weather is changeable,and cold.
I am looking forward to the buds beginning to appear on the trees again, then I will know that spring is on its way.
My friend Anji just had her baby... Happy Birthday Ragnar!
I will pick today Feb. 19, 2006. I am happy where I am right now. This is a great time for me. I am healthy, my husband is healthy. My Grandmother whom I adore is 91 years old. She is getting forgetful and a little loopy, but other than that she is in good health.
On another note about February, it reminds me of Hawaii. There have been 3 different Februarys that I have been to Hawaii.
February also marks the end of winter to me. March is cold in Illinois, but it we usually have lots of sunshine after dreary December, January, and February. Things seem to be on the upswing in February.
Much love Barb!
i like groundhog day -- not the groundhog or the event in particular -- it just happens to be a "holiday" that my partner and i can have to ourselves without family intervening and changing plans (we may not do anything, but i like having one day a year that's our holiday). we have an anniversary, but it's only celebrated by us since it's not recognized by anyone else. my partner's birthday is the day after groundhog day so i particularly like this month. it has it's share of sadness too, but those are my personal things and i remember them as well (but keep them to myself).
It's my mom's birthday Feb. 24. She has been in my corner no matter what. She is the essense of unconditional love and as far as I'm concerned - that is all the emotional value that February holds.
I also like that it is a short month. Sometimes by the time the end of the month rolls along, it just feels like the end of a very long month. February is that once yearly reprieve.
~Mike
Feb 14 is not so much Valentine's Day as it is the anniversary of my honorable discharge from the Army in 1972. So olive drab.
Steve Jones, the music Director at Zionsville Christian Church in Indiana has a different take on Feb 14. In 1988, his Father passed on while the family was there with him. Then, a consumate (spelling?) musician, he went on to do a show that evening for a musical group.
And, this year, our good friends, Tom and Shellie had a baby, Joseph Dylan Hudson. And he's a cute looking thing.
February is the month I was born and also that bridge month between really cold winter weather and the warmer days in March before Spring.Its a great month to hunker down and daydream about Spring gardening,Summer camp outs and just learning to listen to the winds of change,even if they are really freaking cold ! LOL
Thanks for sharing
Tab
So nice to hear about vacations, changes in weather, births, staying in the moment and how could I have forgotten groundhog's day!
Happy Birthday to those February babies as well.
Well... FEB is the day when I get my money back from the IRS.. wait until April 15th.. NO WAY! Its my money.. and it pays my credit card for December, and leaves a little extra to treat myself.
Also, Feb is my second favorite month,(Nov being 1st) as it was when my mother was born!
T
I have a favorite day, Feb. 18th is my birthday. For my birthday my husband took me to see a Johnny Rivers concert last night. It was awesome,since I've had a crush on him since I first saw him yearssss ago. I kind of like February!
Well for me that would be Tu Be'shvat.
On that day my wife and everyone else, force me to taste exotic, weird looking fruits.
I would refuse only when I hear the price they paid I know I can't have them thrown out!
and yes despite this I enjoy this day!
Hi B,
Let's hope that my favorite moment is the birth of my daughter! (Tomorrow, if things go as planned.)
February is the month G and I first, er, consummated our, er, attraction (it wasn't love yet) 10 years ago, so it's fitting that our daughter will be born in February.
About Abe, did you know that his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, very likely had borderline personality disorder? She had all of the behavioral hallmarks of BPD, especially narcissism and impulsivity. After Abe died she complained about being broke, but after her own death they found some 50 or so trunks filled with unworn, very expensive clothes she had bought. Her son is often vilified for having her committed, but to be fair, (a) he was doing what was considered to be the necessary thing to help a mentally ill person at that time, and (b) she made his and his wife's life a living hell.
I've learned a lot about Abe Lincoln since moving to Illinois; he was SUCH an interesting man.
For me, February is the most difficult month. It's desolate, bleak, sad, cold. So close to Spring, so far from Her. My life will end in February, this I know without a doupt. That is why I'm glad it's a short month. I think whoever made the calendar *knew* February would be the worst month of the year, so he made it the shortest.
Christie Brinkley, Farrah Fawcett, and Shakira were all born on February 2 ... oh baby!
p.s. My first acting role was as the month of February in a production titled "The Littlest Month." The production company was Mrs. Wyber's 3rd grade class. I remember LOVING the fact that I had snagged the leading role. I never caught the acting bug, but that small taste of fame kindled a lifelong need for attention and validation.
There are so many wonderful days, I can't really pick just one. And I think that shows how very blessed I am.
Many years ago, my best/worst day was when I signed my divorce papers one cold February day.
Reply to next post: It is good to take some (blog)time off once in a while. I wish you all the best Barbara. Take care!
nooooooooooo
barbara dont go plzzzzzzzz
I am sorry that you have decided to place your blog on the back burner for a while. I will miss it.
Best wishes in resolving the painful issues that plague you right now.
I look forward to your return in the future.
FEB 20th DEAR BARBfromCA....
NO MATTER HOW TIRED YOU GET OF YOURSELF,YOU HAVE SHOWN A DIVERSE AND OPEN MIND,LET THOSE STRENGTHS BE WITH YOU TO SELF NURTURE DURING THESE PERSONAL TIMES FOR YOU ~
SINCERELY
TAB
sorry , I wasn't yelling,not sure why the cap's were locked on..lol
Take care~
I know you will be back. Sometimes life gets too wearing to muster the energy for creative acts. I know that sometimes I feel mute in the face of the awful and so say nothing rather than talk endlessly about the awful. After so much worry and much loss, a hiatus is good. I think I"m on one now as well, just never said.
Be well. The tough times are not forever, but must be honoured. See you soon, I hope.
~Barefoot
Barbara, just wanted to say damn, I meant to visit sooner and now you've vanished. Hope you come back. I'll be watching out for you and thinking of you.
So sorry you lost Astro.
Thanks for the wonderful, stimulating blog you've brought to life,please leave me a note when you feel ready to come back.
Barbara, I'll miss you, also. Your posts were always interesting & thought provoking reading. Be sure to let us know if you decide to blog again.
Chow!!
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I just found your blog for the first time today and am sorry to read that you are having a bout of depression that won't let go. It is hard to move through the grief process, especially when it is the loss of a "child." I know. I have been there twice.
Both my pups had long and happy lives, but I was not emotionally prepared to let them go. I am not sure we ever are. I found the stength to do so in the very love that kept me attached. I loved them enough to let them go since they were in pain and living lives which were no longer joyful to them.
I wanted to write a few words to you in case you are still reading this blog here and there. Words to say that if you hold on a little while longer, the sadness will lessen. Something will always pull at your heart when you see an animal which reminds you of your Astro, or perhaps when you look at snapshots or remember tender moments you shared. But, eventually your pain will become less intense because time will put some distance there. This will allow you the wonderful memories without the devastating pain which now hovers over them. It may take you many months to feel the difference, but it will come.
I remember the physical pain in my chest when I awoke and realized this was not all a bad dream. I remember moments when breathing felt too hard. Loss can be so difficult, but knowing it will not always feel so intensely piercing and unbearable is important to recovery. And, it won't.
Do take care of yourself. I send you good wishes for days when sunshine can warm you and bring brightness back into your life, and when your heart no longer feels like it has been broken into pieces.
Take good care.
Mr. H.K.
Postcards from Hell's
Kitchen
And I Quote Blog
Just a note to say Hello,
Hope your doing okay:)
Hope all is well, Barbara. I'm taking a break myself. Take care.
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