The Thirteenth Day of Christmas

Yesterday was Epiphany, which isn't really a celebrated holiday in the US as much as Europe, but I like it and try to celebrate it, too. Epiphany allegedly represents the day that the three Wise Men or Kings or Magi and that little drummer boy found Jesus and brought him their gifts.

Most people in the US believe that the song, "The Twelve Days of Christmas" is talking about the twelve days leading up to Christmas. But it is actually the twelve days following Christmas, leading up to Epiphany. And if you think about it, it makes sense. Epiphany is the day the Wise Men brought Jesus their gifts, and "The Twelve Days of Christmas" is all about bestowing gifts.

On Christmas Eve, I was given the gift of a broken headlight. My car spun out on the freeway and I hit a guard-rail, and for a moment or two, I was facing on-coming traffic on I-5. It scared the daylights out of me. And my car. Literally. On the first day of Christmas, my car was stuck in a ditch. On the second day of Christmas, I punctured one of my tires trying to dig my car out of the ditch. On the third day of Christmas, I found out that ALL of my tires had to replaced, for which I did not have the money. On the fourth and fifth days of Christmas, I was all alone in my cold apartment in Bellingham. On the sixth day of Christmas, I partied like a rock star and got hit-on by multiple older gents. On the ninth day of Christmas, I partied again like a rock star and got hit-on by multiple younger gents who were too drunk to walk, and just drunk enough to try to stick their hands down my shirt. On the eleventh day of Christmas, I forgot about an audition. On the twelfth day, I remembered the audition and made it to the second night of auditions. On the thirteenth day of Christmas, I found out I did not get called back, even though several less-talented people did (and yes, I know how vain that sounds. I feel entitled to vanity once in a while, since I so very seldom use it.)

The fourteenth day of Christmas has a slightly happier forecast. It will be pay-day, and I won't have the disappointment of not getting called-back looming over me all day. Anybody wanna celebrate with me the day following the day after the Magi found Jesus? What is myrrh anyway? It sounds like it could be a pretty tasty drink!