With the Jewish High Holiday, Yom Kippur, starting at sundown tomorrow (Sunday), I’ve been preparing my psyche for the seriousness of the occasion by keeping my writing on the light side for the past couple of days. As many of you probably know, Yom Kippur is what is known as the Day of Atonement . . . or, as we liberals like to call it, Instant Lent.

Despite my obsession with the daily news — most of which is terrible because if it ain’t bad it ain’t news — I have always found it difficult to remain too serious for too long. And I can almost believe that the following was written with me in mind:

“Laugh whenever you can. Keeps you from killing yourself when things are bad. That and vodka.”

– Jim Butcher, “Changes” (The Dresden Files, #12)

With that said, I believe I’ve gotten the giggles out of the way and am now ready to face 24 hours of atoning for my sins of the past year — which, I am able to report, have been relatively minor of late . . . not always by choice, but sometimes because I’m too old and too tired for the big stuff anymore.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
9/19/26