When Daily Observances Go Too Far

Honestly, I don't know how this got started. Or why. Or by whom.

I just wish it hadn't.

I've no idea how widespread this practice is. Does it extend to judges in courtrooms? To members of Congress? To surgeons? Waitstaff?

For many years I worked at a Quaker school and after that at a school for kids with autism. I used to wonder how the kids felt seeing their teachers in their 'jamas.

For the record, I was never, not even once, a participant. I didn't understand those who did participate. 

But if you, dear reader, choose to wear your flannels to work, I support your [dubious] choice and right to do so.

When I was in junior high school, back in the days when no one of any gender wore blue jeans to school, there would be the occasional "dress up day." The girls would be wearing Sunday dresses along with their nylon stockings (with garter belts) and worrying about getting "runs" in them. This was so long ago that knee-highs hadn't been invented yet. Or panty-hose. We looked forward to these days and by ninth grade, most of us had our first pairs of heels and argued with our parents about whether or not we would be allowed to wear them to school. Just this once. (We weren't.) I don't have any idea whether the teachers participated; I was too busy admiring my classmates and trying to avoid getting a "run." 

I never wanted to see any of my teachers in their pajamas and in my adult years, never wanted to see any of my coworkers in theirs. 

My friend Cathy and I both noticed back at the beginning of this year,  during the Winter That Has No End, that there were all kinds of days designated for special celebrations and pondered over our morning texts which ones we thought were worth observing. January 27, National Chocolate Cake Day, was determined worthy of being almost mandatory. In both of our households. The 24th of that month, Beer Can Appreciation Day, not so much. 

I was to a medical appointment today and also worked my shift at the food pantry. Joe grocery shopped and went to get a routine blood draw. Neither of us reported seeing anyone wearing their pajamas to work. And now we've discovered that April 16 is also Eggs Benedict Day. 

I wonder if he'd consider going out to Perkins for supper?