I’m a good question-er.  Bring up any topic or introduce me to someone and I ask questions…I’m just so damn curious!  I’ve been told that perhaps throwing the big spotlight on people I meet may make them uncomfortable….it’s not like I ask personal questions to do with their clothing size, weight or bathroom habits.  I always think that someone to keep the conversation going is better than everyone sitting around on their thumbs trying to think of a way to flee because of the silence!   When I’m in a group…I hate silence.  You know the silence of the extended family getting together – everyone talking at once until that moment when the excitement of seeing each other is gone and the deafening silence falls upon the crowd and someone giggles and says.  Wow…we got quiet.  Ya…that makes me uncomfortable.  It’s like – Is it just me or am I channeling everyone else in this one moment and I want to be any where but here.

Thus the hallmark holiday…

Full Definition of HALLMARK

1
a : an official mark stamped on gold and silver articles in England to attest their purity
b : a mark or device placed or stamped on an article of trade to indicate origin, purity, or genuineness
2
: a distinguishing characteristic, trait, or feature

Before I actually googled it, I defined the word hallmark as notable.  I was obviously wrong.  The other way I define Hallmark is anything commercial that the Hallmark Card Company makes money selling cards to guilty people….and the holidays to celebrate the event.

When I was growing up, my family celebrated every birthday and Hallmark holiday.  We were a small family – it was not hard…it was expected…there were no decisions to make…there was no choice.  We also bought Hallmark cards, for crying out loud.  It never even occurred to me that everyone didn’t!  It never occurred to me that these “important” holidays would not continue to be important to my offspring and current extended family.  Our family patriarchs and matriarchs are  gone, does this end with them?  Are we turning our back on family or are we saying done with the commercialized required family gathering…we will get together when we want to see each other …. it’s a learning curve for me but it does make sense!

Until next time…..