By Shelley Murphy
By Shelley Murphy
With out fail, the primary week of January, I can rely on two issues. First, individuals peppering me with questions on my resolutions for the brand new yr.
Second, strolling into Costco and being bombarded with rows of nutritional vitamins from Acacia to Zinc and traversing a tidal wave of health apparatuses and equipment.
I noticed way back it’s foolish to counsel a vacation would possibly magically result in life adjustments. Yearly, I ignore the commercials for fad diets and gimmicks assured to “make this yr your greatest but!”
It’s the identical yr after yr; the highest resolutions at all times embrace losing a few pounds, exercising extra, consuming more healthy and saving cash. Blah, blah, blah.
I perceive my opinion could come throughout as cantankerous, however after partaking within the vacation rituals of cooking, cleansing and clearing the Christmas muddle, I’m not within the temper to take part in one other exhausting endeavor.
As a substitute, I’m skipping reveling in resolutions initially of the month and selecting to have fun a little-known vacation on the finish of the month: Curmudgeons Day on Jan. 29.
The vacation is noticed on the birthday of American actor, comic, and author William Claude Dukenfield, in any other case referred to as the curmudgeon W.C. Fields.
W.C. Fields grew to become well-known for his cantankerous characters and good-humored grumpiness, together with his disdain for canines and kids. He’s additionally immortalized for his quite a few comedic quotes reminiscent of, “I’m freed from all prejudice. I hate everybody equally.”
The American Heritage Dictionary defines a curmudgeon as “an ill-tempered, unpleasant, and quarrelsome individual.”
I’m not a real curmudgeon, and I don’t suppose anybody who is aware of me would name me cranky—nicely, to not my face.
I like to think about curmudgeons as unconventional thinkers who aren’t afraid to ruffle a couple of feathers.
Curmudgeons are available all styles and sizes, they aren’t outlined by bodily attributes, and they are often any gender or age.
Additionally they run the gamut; some expertise sporadic surly moods and others lead a lifetime of petulance.
There’s a protracted checklist of in style tv and film characters who’re curmudgeons, together with Stanley Hudson from The Workplace, Oscar the Grouch from Sesame Road, and Severus Snape of Harry Potter fame.
For greater than 30 years, Andy Rooney was the king of curmudgeons and made a profession of expressing his disgruntled observations in his 60 Minutes section “A Few Minutes with Andy Rooney.”
Producers from the information present haven’t contacted me but, however I’m blissful to contribute my cantankerous observations.
Leaf blowers. Thanks, San Clemente Metropolis Council, for passing a citywide ban on the gas-powered noise makers, which went into impact on Nov. 4, 2022 (it excludes some metropolis contractors).
Drivers who clear their entrance windshield with their windshield wiper fluid whereas driving at a big velocity. I can’t rely the occasions my clear automobile has been caught in an online of moist, dirty spray. Pull over to the facet of the highway, please.
Moviegoers who buy their tickets on the field workplace and wrestle to pick seats. It’s a two-hour film, not a transcontinental flight.
The passengers within the automobile forward of me on the well-established drive-thru restaurant who take ceaselessly to order from the age-old menu. It’s quick meals, quick being the operative phrase.
Glitter. Regardless of cleansing and vacuuming, it’s going to lie dormant for months or years, after which its insidious sparkle will shine. A greeting card chock stuffed with “shock” glitter is a surefire passive-aggressive solution to have fun a supposed pal’s birthday.
Flamable gender reveals. Sufficient stated.
This January, skip the silliness of creating sweeping seasonal New Yr resolutions and as an alternative have fun the grumpy, grouchy or good old style naysayers in life.
Certain, curmudgeons are sometimes a bit tough, however they’re additionally passionate individuals keen to say what they suppose, and infrequently with a witty and humorous aptitude.
Attempt honoring them on this vacation, and also you would possibly discover beneath many have a coronary heart of gold—with out the glitter.For greater than 20 years, Shelley Murphy and her husband have lived in San Clemente, the place she raised her two sons. She’s a contract author and has been a contributor to Picket Fence Media since 2006.
