Daylight saving time takes some adjusting

Beware the ides of March! The ides of March is a fancy way of saying March 15. Long, long ago the day was a holiday dedicated to the god Mars. The highlight of the day was a military parade, as Mars was a god of war.

Then along came William Shakespeare who wrote about Julius Caesar's murder. His play gave us those ominous words, "Beware the ides of March."

Few, if any, people believe in the god Mars any more so there is no point celebrating his day. There aren't many Roman dictators with friends named Brutus so that danger is also moot. However, Indiana has now joined the rest of the country and instituted that odious practice of daylight saving time.

Therefore, most of those you meet today will be a bit sleep deprived. It is all well and good to determine to go to bed early but our bodies take time to adjust. We are used to falling asleep at a set time, and are determined not to go to bed early. After all, if we go to bed early then what is the point in having an extra hour of daylight at the end of the day?

We will barely begin to get used to the time change before we celebrate St. Patrick's Day. It is the time of year when I miss my step-father. When they were first married, he used to waltz my mother around the kitchen in a crazy Irish jig. Maybe it wasn't a real Irish jig but they were laughing and having fun so it doesn't matter what nationality it was. It is a memory that I cherish.

We should beware the ides of March for another reason. I am convinced that we will have one more big snow before winter is over for good. I hope it doesn't occur today.

If the weather is nice I will be outside piddling around in my yard. I sincerely hope that the two guys and a girl who were walking by my house last week choose a different subject of conversation if they happen by again.

They were talking about how we shouldn't be sending money to Haiti. After, all, what does Haiti have that we need? Bananas? We can do without bananas.

I thought, bananas? I didn't know bananas came from Haiti. I thought they came from Central and South America. As far as I could tell we import from that country such things as cotton clothing, cocoa beans, (can't do without that), and coffee, among other items.

I don't care what Haiti has that we don't. I care that we have so much more than they do. We, as Americans, are the "haves" of the world. As such, we owe it to the "have-nots" to do what we can to give help when it is needed. Americans are notorious for sticking our noses in where it doesn't belong in an effort to help.

I read one time that we are like a big friendly dog, willing to help any and everybody with sometimes disastrous consequences. We help even when our help is not wanted. We help because we can.

We also offer aid because it is the right thing to do. If some one, some country, some state, or city has become a victim of a cranky earth and suffered a disaster of any kind then it is up to those not affected to help those involved. It is an obligation of the "haves" to help the "have-nots" no matter what they may have that benefits the rest of us.

It is common courtesy.

When I overhear conversations like that I am reminded that I am far less tolerant towards others than I think I am. "What does Haiti have that we need?" The statement makes my blood boil.

So beware the ides of March if you walk by my house spouting such nonsense. I might be too sleep-deprived to hold my tongue and mind my own business.[[In-content Ad]]