Calling All Patriots

Normally our federal taxes are due on April 15th, but that was yesterday which was a Sunday, so you'd think they would be due today. But today is a holiday for some people in America, and so everyone gets to wait a day to pay their taxes tomorrow. This fact was told to us by our accountant, who lives in Maryland where it is not a holiday. Here in Maine, today is Patriot's Day. It is also a holiday in Massachusetts where it is called Patriots' Day, so I guess there are many more of them down there. Neither of these should be confused with Patriot Day, which is on September 11 and reminds us every year of the 2001 terrorist attacks in New York City.

Today's holiday commemorates the battles of Lexington and Concord, the opening salvos of the American Revolutionary War which was fought from 1775 to 1783. You remember that, don't you? Paul Revere, "One if by land, two if by sea," etc. (There will be a short quiz after this blog post, and yes, this will all be on it.)

Some of the things that will happen today in celebration of America's getting out from under Great Britain's thumb, if a country can be said to have a thumb, are:
1. No mail delivery
2. The running of the Boston Marathon
3. Taxes are not due
4. No school
5. My husband's early morning workout at his gym was called the "Paul Revere"
6. Banks are closed

Not much of a celebration, but still-- it's a good day off for some.