In a study by Flamingo, a firm which helps companies manage employee absences and medical leaves, August 24th is the day most American workers call in sick. And why would this be? Hmmmm?...
Historically, Hawaii became an official state this day in 1959 and subsequently, Daniel K. Inouye was the first Japanese-American congressman to the U.S. House of Representatives, and Hiram L. Font of Hawaii became the first Chinese-American U.S. senator to the U.S. Senate. Now, there’s a good reason for a sick day on August 24th from a long night of celebrating.
On this day in 79 CE, Mount Versuvius erupted in Italy leaving us the Pompeii ruins of people frozen in time trying to escape death. This reminder of how quickly life can end is another good reason to skip work for a day of leisure at the company’s expense.
The craziest August 24th fact of all is a personal one for me, you see, on August 24th in 1930, it was announced that the recently discovered Planet X, the 9th planet in our solar system which had been named Pluto after the Roman god of the underworld, was not a massive Jupiter size planet as promised, but in all actuality, a “dwarf planet.” Which was okay, because it remained the ruling planet of those born under the Scorpio horoscope. That is, until August of 2016 when the International Astronomical Union- Bastards, (IAU-B), took Pluto off the list of planets in our solar system and life for Scorpio’s like me, got more confusing than ever. Fortunately, however, I am a Buddhist and understand that change is a part of life to be celebrated, and so, on August 24th in 2019 I received a gohonzon for my Buddhist altar — is it any wonder that I called in sick today to write on my blog?
Finally, August 24 is also the Festival of Luna, the goddess of the Moon. In her temple, Luna Noctiluca (Moon that shines by night), the cover was removed from the Mundas Cereris, the labyrinthine passage to the underworld, to allow the spirits of the dead to roam free.
Another good reason to skip work if you ask me.
So, brothers and sisters, if you are reading this from your “sick day” by the pool, you’re not alone, even if you think you are.
~~ Eso Terry
