I just realized, sitting here alone at 10 pm while Derrick is climbing up heaven-knows-where, that today is Pioneer Day. Gotta admit it: this “holiday” never held alot of interest for me, except for when I was ten years old and my mom sewed me an apron and bonnet so I could walk around Keewaydin Park nineteen times singing, “Pioneer children sang as they walked, and walked, and walked, and walked…and (high note here) waaalked.” It was a hundred degrees and despite my sweat and tears, I unjustly lost the costume contest. Determined to win something, I decided next to brave the watermelon eating contest and promptly threw up afterwards. (Do you remember any of this, Sarah? I’m sure you were suffering right by my side.)

At any rate, July 24th usually comes and goes and I am none the wiser for it. Perhaps it’s because I live outside of Utah, or that I am pitifully ignorant of any pioneer heritage I may posses (how long can I use the “it’s not my season” excuse?), or that July is always a whirlwind of crazybusy in our family, so this peculiar holiday gets quickly squeezed out. Regardless of the reason, I don’t think much about Pioneer Day, and I probably should. Tonight, however, I came across an essay (in the form of a devotional address) that made me do so. It was written for people like me who just don’t get into the whole Pioneer Day Thing, and the author just happens to be Tessa Santiago, who was my favorite English professor at BYU. So in the interest of having nothing interesting to write today, I think I’ll gracefully bow out of my blog and let Dr. Santiago do the work, since she is such a better writer than I, and, let’s face it, its no skin off her back. The talk can be found here, and don’t be fooled by its dry title. I guarantee a totally satisfying experience.

Happy 24th of July!



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7 thoughts on “Is it really a holiday?”

  1. Sarah,
    No. Never. This is a real problem at ward potlucks, but I stand my ground.

    Lisa,
    Definitely worth reading if you can find the time, but if anyone is pressed for reading time, its you! It will be there if you ever get the chance. =)

  2. It’s a long one….I’ll have to go read it later if I have a chance because I must admit that I have never been one for pioneer day myself.

  3. You don’t eat watermelon? Ever?

    The haunted clothesline is a whole ‘nother venue of embarrassment. I have pictures of the Keewaydin skit.

    I am going to read the article now, so I can be in your loop of knowledge.

  4. Rache and Mel–
    Glad you enjoyed the talk–thanks for taking the time to read it! I loved it, too.

    Sar–
    I can’t quite place the skit,but I guarantee you were not embarrassing yourself onstage as much as I was yakking up melon on the grass. To this day, I still cannot stand the stuff. You and I were in so many theatrical ventures back then, the bow/broom episode could be one of many performances…you’re not morphing this memory with “The Haunted Clothesline” now, are you?:) Man, we were cool.

  5. I do not recall any watermelon eating contest, but I do remember being in some sort of skit at Keewaydin park where I wore a long dress, a large bow in my hair (everyday) and there was a broom involved. Were you enjoying watermelon while I was embarrassed out of my mind on a tiny little stage in the middle of the park?

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