Graduation Day On Friday The 13th

Given that today is Friday the 13th, we're thankful that graduation went off without a hitch. Elliott graduated from Grandma and Grandpa's daycare today. That may be over dramatic, but in today's times when there are kindergarten valedictorians and 2 hour ceremonies to recognize the completion of a three week dance class, it seems appropriate. In reality, it was Elliott's last day with grandma and grandpa on a regular basis. Mama finished school today and mother and son are gleefully preparing for a summer adventure. An adventure I am confident will provide good blogging material.

We can't be any more grateful for grandma and grandpa stepping in to help out. When we decided he would be staying with them, we knew he'd get much more than daycare. He would be showered with love (aka spoiled rotten), he would be educated, and there was a risk he would think twice before returning home with us at night. All of the above played out as expected.

Speaking of education, as a father you start preparing answers for questions you know are in your future. For example, "Dad, why is Friday the 13th and unlucky day?" I immediately drew a blank today when I tried to practice my answer. I've never stopped to think about it really, probably because I've never been superstitious. So I did a little research to come up with something better than "it just is."

Toby Keith once sang "I wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then." That would summarily sing to the results of my research. What I know now is there are no less than 50 different myths as to the origin of Friday the 13th. Most of them are not even rooted in that particular day, but more in the belief that for dozens of reasons, 13 is an unlucky number and Friday a historically bad day of the week. The greatest irony is that many of the myths are rooted in Christian events. I would have to believe that Christians hold luck in low regard for its impact on the various twists and turns of life.

But I'm wrong, Christians, as well as many other Americans of every faith, shape and size take the risk of this day very seriously. Many have to go through counseling just to make it through this particular day. By some estimates, each Friday the 13th costs businesses 800 to 900 million dollars. People won't get on planes, they won't go to work, they won't expose themselves to society on any level. To 21 million Americans, the fear of this particular day is that great.

So when Elliott asks me the question, where did this day come from, the answer is simple - "They named it after a movie."