Lawyering Through Life

Lee Jackson Day

Today, I am at work but in jeans and a t-shirt because the courthouse is closed in honor of Lee Jackson Day. Not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, I was pumped to have a day off. Granted, I am at work right now, but I am in jeans, playing Dave Matthews on my computer and blogging for goodness sakes.

But Lee Jackson Day? I wasn't aware of such a holiday. So, I did a little research courtesy of Wikipedia. Below is what I found:

Lee-Jackson-King Day was a holiday celebrated in the Commonwealth of Virginia from 1984 to 2000.

Robert E. Lee's birthday (January 19, 1807) has been celebrated as a Virginia holiday since 1889. In 1904, the legislature added the birthday of Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson (January 21, 1824) to the holiday, and Lee-Jackson Day was born.

In 1983, President Ronald Reagan approved an Act of Congress declaring January 15 to be a national holiday in honor of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. Since 1978, Virginia had celebrated King's birthday in conjunction with New Year's Day. To align with the federal holiday, the Virginia legislature simply combined King's celebration with the existing Lee-Jackson holiday.

The incongruous nature of the holiday, which simultaneously celebrated the lives of Confederate generals and a civil rights icon, did not escape the notice of Virginia lawmakers. Legislators protested the holiday by waving pictures of Jesse Jackson, Spike Lee, and Martin Luther King, Jr. around the state capitol. In 2000, Virginia Governor Jim Gilmore proposed splitting Lee-Jackson-King Day into two separate holidays, with Lee-Jackson Day to be celebrated the Friday before what would become Martin Luther King Day. The measure was approved and the two holidays are now celebrated separately.


Really? The three men were celebrated together until 2000? That's seem...I don't know, a little recent? And what I was told that while Governor Gilmore "proposed" the splitting of the holiday, it was actually the federal government threatening to withhold highway funding from the Commonwealth unless the split was accomplished. I can't confirm whether that is indeed true, so take it as the gossip it may very well be.

I approve the split for the obvious reason that the combination was a little odd but also because two days off from work are better than one.

And what is better than a four day weekend? A four day weekend with two nights dedicated to Jack Bauer, you say? That's right! Jack is back this Sunday night. The 24 parties will resume Sunday night at the Editrix's house and then I am hosting on Monday. Sweet potato gnocchi for everyone! Including Jack. From the previews, it looks like he could use a good meal.

24 will most likely be the highlight of my weekend. I have a baby shower, dinner out for Restaurant Week, drinks at a new bar tonight...all acceptable weekend plans. All of these plans will be done while STILL WEARING MY GLASSES. I went back to the eye doctor today and not only are they no closer to identifying the source of my problem, my eyes are barely closer to be ready for contacts. I would get a second opinion but this one has drained my bank account so, I just can't afford to go to another doctor.

Allright enough whining. I have the day off. Glass is half full. Even I can barely see the glass through my still infected and no longer bright blue eyes.

posted by jersey @ 3:21 PM