This coming weekend will be my very least favorite holiday
of the year. I so detest this one certain day of the year (or rather the
holiday associated with it) that when I wrote my last post I originally said it
was one holiday I’d never put in any of my stories. Konnie corrected me in the nick
of time. I do have one story with this horrendous holiday mentioned.
And I have no idea why I forgot it. It was the first novel I
actually finished writing. Though I also know when I wrote that story, I had
wanted to ignore this one day, but according to the time line I had worked out,
things happened on this most annoying day of the year.
Can you tell I can’t stand it?
I have actually tried hard to ignore it, and when possible,
I’d hole up in my room to avoid my family on this one day of the year, when I
could. However, if it was any day other than Saturday, I had to interact with
others, unfortunately. Though now days, the only day I can’t avoid contact with
people is well, usually Sunday, except, thankfully, the first Sunday in April
is when my church holds their semi-annual world-wide conference, which I can view
on my computer; I can hole up! Yeah. I can avoid any and all persons acting the
fool, unless they happen to call me.
My father did that one a few times. Actually one year, Tom
and I received big news on April 1st. We weren’t sure any of our
family would believe us when we called them, but we did try. I remember being totally
frustrated with my father, the consummate prankster, who refused to believe it
wasn’t a prank.
I ended the call before I started yelling at him and called
Konnie. When I told her the news, she believed me right away, and when I told
her how frustrating our father had just been she not only agreed he was being pigheaded,
she got off the phone with me and called him and told him off!
My quiet, shy twin told off our father! Of course, she knew,
I’m Bonnie. I don’t joke, I don’t tease, and most importantly, I can’t stand
April Fool’s Day!
Now, Easter is another issue. As a good Christian, Easter,
like Christmas, is important. And since this Easter falls on Conference
weekend, I have two things I’m looking forward to, and will enjoy, on a day I
usually wish wouldn’t happen.
And this is something else we need to consider when adding
holidays into our stories. How do the characters feel about the holiday? How
will they respond to the holiday? Do they have any traditions for that holiday?
Do their traditions differ from each other? Are they compatible? Or not?
All of these can affect how you portray the holiday in your
story, and how your characters will act.
Happy Writing everyone! 😊
