The time for sleep is now...it's nothing to cry about 'cause we'll hold each other soon

Today is that infamous day where you buy your dad some sort of (power)tool or a cheap tie and leave him alone.  When compared to that other infamous day, it really seems to get the shit end of the stick if you really think about it.  For this latter day, we spend a lot of money of really expensive jewelry or other non-important things.  We have long meals that we give a special name to and pay far too much money for the not worth it eatables; maybe it is because it is acceptable - encouraged even - to have alcoholic beverages and dress nicely.  We have full day celebrations, children makes crafts that the parental unit will love no matter what at school - something they will hang onto for years to come, despite the offspring's best attempts to dispose of it.  There are sales weeks, months leading up to it.  There are special services at places of worship - I guess this is expected, considering there is a commandment about it - well, this half anyway.  The flower industry flourishes, literally, on one of its two biggest holidays (the other being, of course, the day of giving and - hopefully - receiving of handmade - or, as more common today, store bought pieces of cardboard with a confectionery attached - valentines (It should be noted, that while this day is set on the Catholic feast day of said saint, it is not on the official calendar - or even officially recognized - because they cannot attribute it to any one person....or reason.  See, it is in fact all the greeting card company - and the flower sellers and the confectionery makers.  It is all a hoax.  Like global warming - which is just a way of making people feel bad about using too much hairspray).).

I could probably go on and on about this latter holiday (which, ironically enough, occurs first in the current calendar) but why bother, I think the idea is understood....if not, well, then you simply do not pay enough attention.  And you only have yourself to blame.  The former holiday, sadly, does not get the same kind of prestige or recognition or celebration.  Sure there are sales and advertisements about it a few weeks, days before, but they are all masks.  They tend not to be about the other half of the parental unit; just a guise to get the masses to spend more of their non-existent money.  Stores will be open regular hours, as will businesses and eateries.  There are no special meals with alcohol involved, encouraged even - well, not socially acceptable ones anyway.

There is just a day for this half of the child rearing team to be left alone.  Or to take the male child out into a wilderness of some sort and 'bond' - another farce, especially if there are no male children (biologically or otherwise).  Or sit in front of a talking box with moving pictures watching competitions or whatever is on.  Sure, there are tool specials and outdoor food cooking container sales, but nothing of the same scale.  There might be a breakfast and a few interesting gifts, but nothing of the same magnitude.

The only reason this still exists as it does is because nobody does anything about it.  Why? Well, because nobody wants to.  Most just want to be left alone anyway.  So, when there is that one that wants something different, they are cast out.  If their own familial unit does something for them especially, well then YAY THEM! but otherwise, we all just leave 'em be.

For yet another year, I am separated from mine, and this time it was not my choice - it was his; but it is alright, he is with his better half and the one who gave him life.  While I might not always agree with what he says, and I am sure there are many things he does not like that I do, at the end of the day we still love each other.  I may not be the ideal female child, but I am who I am - I do not pretend to be anybody else.  And I know, no matter what, he will love me all the same.  So here is to 23 (technically) years of a lifelong job that you volunteered for, for better or worse.  If Heaven and Hell decide that they both are satisfied, illuminate the NOs on your vacancy signs.  If there's no one beside you when your soul embarks, then I'll follow you into the dark.  I love you Dad.