jr conlin's ink stained banana

i think i figured out my problem. i hate ceremonies.

My Dad and brother are in the military. Growing up, i was raised fairly strictly and went to Catholic school, so yeah, i know ceremonies. Both the large scale group ceremonies as well as the smaller ones that require strict courses of action that follow a progressive path, like when someone sneezes and you say "Bless You". (Of course, when i say that phrase, i usually try to hold out my hands and speak in a deep, sonorous tone so that the individual has no doubt just who is doing the blessing, but that's beside the point.)

Ceremonies are little rituals that one does in order not to really think about what one is doing. That just kinda rubs me the wrong way. i like being very much aware of what i'm participating in and enjoy meaningful interaction with people. Heck, that's one of the reasons why i write stuff here. What i'd don't go for is the mindless motions that may have once been meaningful, but are now merely sources of Repetitive Stress Injuries.

Ok, i admit it. i also fall into more than a few ruts in my life that could be considered ceremonies. The difference is that those actions i'm well aware of and need to be at least somewhat awake for. i guess i've been thinking more and more about this because as we enter the holiday season, we're pretty much besieged with ceremonies, a few of which i have every intention of breaking. (Like the thing about how Thanksgiving dinner begins at X O'Clock when food is passed from party to party, eaten and then the table is cleaned within 20 minutes. i'm planning something a bit more conversation friendly and a tad less feeding of the wolves.)

Of course, the one thing that i know absolutely is that People Hate Change. i'm sure that i'll have people crying and screaming because i'm holding back on serving the whipped mashed potatoes in lieu of the meat and greens. i'll probably be disowned because i'm serving herb crusted Naan instead of rolls. And although the plates will be clean and folks will be just as comatose in the living room, i'll probably still be disowned for not following The Rules as defined and passed on down the Generation (singular).

But you know what?

It'll be so worth it.