Happy Samhain, Everybody!

Today marks the beginning of Samhain, the 'dark half' of the Celtic year. The new year, so to speak. Christians everywhere, being contrary, like to call it All Saints Day or All Souls Day, and like to remember saints, martyrs and their dead, in general. My dead are never far from me, but today represents a special day during which all those who died without cleansing can be beautified. To me, November first is the beginning of the end. The long slow descent into cold, harsh winter. PPhhht.

I do this every year, this list making business, in an effort to try to appreciate the winter months. I vow to get some skates, go downhill skiing, learn how to snowboard, appreciate hot drinks by the fire and buy some better boots, for Christ's sake. Even half of these would lessen the whining and crying I usually content myself with. When I was a kid, the thought of Christmas and the holidays afterwards, kept me afloat until the morning of Jan 1. Then the slow spiral into depression and hibernation would begin. After New Year's Day you should probably avoid me. The north puts on it's long underwear and we disappear for a few months.

Saints I like to remember:

Saint Anthony the Grape
Saint Augustine the Hippo
Saint Basil the Herb
Saint Denis of Vanier
Saint Hugh of Lincoln Town Car
Saint James the Great
Saint James the O.K.
Saint Jean Claude Van Damme
and
Saint Amour de Witherspoon

If you've never heard of some of these guys don't be surprised; I was raised Anglican.