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Columbus Day and Me

October 14, 2013 By Talya Tate Boerner

State Bank friends

In Fourteen Hundred Ninety-Two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue. And not that long ago, I worked at State Bank and Trust. ย During my tenure at State Bank and Trust, Columbus Day was one of my absolute favorite holidays. Not because of my overwhelming love for the man (although he could rock a hat), but because it was theย onlyย bank holiday when my kids still attendedย school.

I think Columbus would have appreciated education. After all, he was an explorer with an incredible thirst for knowledge.

Columbus Day

That one Monday in October carried extra special meaning to me. It representedย An Entire Day To Myself.

Lordy.

I was gleeful.

It was theย best day of the year.

Busy moms understand.

I showered and dressed at my regular pre-crack-of-dawn-time, dropped the kids off as though it was a normal eight-to-five day, then headed straight to Starbucks for my first Gingerbread Latte of the season.

I sat in the stillness ofย Barnes and Noble surrounded by books and read the newspaper cover to cover until Toys R Us opened. With the bulk of my Christmas shopping completed at a leisurely pace, I reveled in an entire afternoon of gardening.

Columbus Day was my special secret.

Can you imagine what it must have been like to load up on a ship and set sail for parts unknown?ย Thank God for brave souls who laid the groundwork for my easy, comfortable life.
I suppose today we can compare Columbusย to space explorers or caversย who descend into black, bottomlessย abysses. But really, ย it’s completely different. Today we have information and technology and state of the art equipment. Columbus hadย trade winds and a compass.
I hope all my bank friends are doing something special today. Remember to reflect on Columbus today and think about how lucky we are to live in the New World.

Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

[tweetthis]Columbus Day and me. Reflecting on how lucky I am to live in the New World. #ColumbusDay[/tweetthis]

Musical Pairing:
Sam Cooke, Chain Gang

Filed Under: Life, Memories Tagged With: America, Columbus Day, federal holiday, State Bank and Trust

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Comments

  1. Jane Gatewood says

    October 14, 2013 at 5:27 am

    Special Days keep our batteries charged.

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      October 14, 2013 at 4:01 pm

      For sure Jane!

  2. Debbie Arnold says

    October 14, 2013 at 7:14 am

    Aren’t those “stolen” days just the best ones:)

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      October 14, 2013 at 4:02 pm

      Yes they are Debbie. Thanks!

  3. Kathy says

    October 14, 2013 at 7:55 am

    Just love days like that!! ♥

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      October 14, 2013 at 4:02 pm

      Me too Kathy. Thanks for commenting!

  4. Jo says

    October 14, 2013 at 9:16 am

    I can’t even remember my days off when my kids were little or school aged. I probably spent them cleaning and catching up the laundry.

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      October 14, 2013 at 4:02 pm

      I probably ignored the cleaning and laundry:))

  5. Gayle Glass says

    October 14, 2013 at 9:36 am

    I think Jo and I must have had the same ‘schedules’…But yes, days without the kids were fun back then…now I miss them being small! Funny…

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      October 14, 2013 at 4:03 pm

      Sometimes I miss those days, but most of the time I’m happy with our current lives:)

  6. Amanda Coers says

    October 14, 2013 at 9:47 am

    I’m thinking I need to establish a Columbus Day celebration here at my house – so I can get the day off ๐Ÿ˜‰

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      October 14, 2013 at 4:03 pm

      I highly recommend it.

  7. Joy says

    October 14, 2013 at 9:51 am

    Talya, this was so much fun!! Boy, did I identify with “a day off without the kids”! ๐Ÿ˜‰ I don’t have a gingerbread latte handy, but I’m going to pour myself another cup of coffee and kick back with a li’l Sam Cooke. Awesome.

    Love, Joy
    Yesterfood

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      October 14, 2013 at 4:04 pm

      Thank you Joy! These days I just stick with regular coffee from home, but it works for me!

  8. Mrs. Tuna says

    October 14, 2013 at 11:00 am

    But why oh why do the little tykes have veterans day off?

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      October 14, 2013 at 4:04 pm

      haha I don’t know.

  9. Rachel Hough says

    October 14, 2013 at 12:11 pm

    I would love something like that, but I would have to find a different profession though…since I’m a teacher.

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      October 14, 2013 at 4:05 pm

      Yes those holidays were greatness as a banker:)

  10. Corinne Rodrigues says

    October 15, 2013 at 4:49 am

    Oh wow! That was surely a special day!
    PS: Sorry I’ve been so absent on your blog. Missed ya!

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      October 15, 2013 at 4:54 am

      Missed you too! Glad you’re back for a visit:)

  11. Debbie@Mountain Breaths says

    October 16, 2013 at 2:22 am

    I am your newest follower. Thanks for following me. What a nice day you had. I would love a gingerbread latte from Starbucks!

    • frances creecy says

      October 10, 2016 at 9:33 am

      Good read this nice fall morning. Enjoyed.


Hi! I'm Talya Tate Boerner. Writer, Reader, Arkansas Master Naturalist / Master Gardener, Author of

THE ACCIDENTAL SALVATION OF GRACIE LEE (2016)

GENE, EVERYWHERE: a life-changing visit from my father-in-law (2020)

BERNICE RUNS AWAY (2022)

THE THIRD ACT OF THEO GRUENE (coming 2025)

Recent Ramblings:

  • Sunday Letter: May 25, 2025
  • Sunday Letter: May 4, 2025
  • Sunday Letter: Rainy Day Edition
  • Spiderwort: my love-hate relationship
  • Sunday Letter: March 23, 2025

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