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Beware the Ides of March!

5 March 2009 7 Comments

All my intellect tells me that being superstitious is absurd. Still, there is something about the month of March. First, here in Pennsylvania, March weather can put you in the throes of physical discomfort with snow one day, rain the next, then sunshine and hints of warmth and then cold that pries its way into your bones. It is a month that bonks against its cocoon while trying to find its way into spring. For me it has also been a month that burgeoned my only superstition, The Ides of March.

An old man told me many years ago that if anything bad is going to happen to you, it will happen in the month of March. All his family members had passed away in that month. I knew this to be true, so it was a little bit more than subliminal messaging. And there was the soothsayer who warned Julius Caesar of his death on the Ides of March which was March 15th. Certainly these happenings are not proof that March is a bad month or one to be wary of. Still, I cringe every year when March 15th rolls around.

In my junior year of high school, my first boyfriend broke up with me on that day. He said it was because I was a Catholic and his parents didn’t approve of him dating a Catholic. I did not believe that was the reason, although the nuns had taught me what being a “good Catholic girl” meant. I think that was the real reason he broke up with me. Girl just said “No.”

There were other happenings through the years, but none of real import. I just put the strings of them all together and decided that March is a bad month. This runs counter to whatever intellect I may possess, and certainly is contrary to my Catholic teachings. No superstitions allowed! Well, I’ll do my penance and get through this month as best I can.

Stevie Wonder wrote this in his song “Superstitions:”

” When you believe in things that you don’t understand, then you suffer. Superstition ain’t the way.”

In spite of myself, I again say, Beware The Ides of March!

7 Comments »

Bob Loosemore said:

I didn’t know the ‘ides’ was March 15th. Mail me to say it passed without incident.

# 5 March 2009 at 3:14 pm

admin (author) said:

Dear Bob,
Hopefully, I will! Silly, isn’t it?

# 5 March 2009 at 4:00 pm

Paul Johnson said:

Dear Cherlock,

To be sure that we never agree, I would like to point out that T S Eliot said that “April is the cruelest month.”

# 6 March 2009 at 3:55 pm

admin (author) said:

Dear Paul,
Actually, per a previous post I did last year entitled “April in Pittsburgh” we do agree that April can be cruel. But March, well, that’s a time when I am inclined to beware. It is totally non-intellectual, I know, but there it is.

# 6 March 2009 at 4:46 pm

gemma said:

Oh great, I had no idea what ides of march was, now that I do it’s one more superstition that I’ve got to overcome : ) thanks!

# 12 March 2009 at 9:04 pm

Maria said:

I feel the same way about the month of March. It just always feels very troubled and the weather can be so dreary (in NJ.) I have had a few bad things happen during this month as well (spring in general.) Mostly March feels like a time when things change but often with a struggle– like even the wind is fighting with itself.

In any case, I can’t wait until April!

# 25 March 2009 at 7:34 am

admin (author) said:

Dear Maria,
I love your line about ‘the wind fighting against itself.’ What great prose and so true.

This month has been a downer for me health-wise. I am sick and tired of being sick and tired. April is near so hold on a bit longer….

I must say that I love Cape May, NJ. It is now on the “must visit once a year list.” Great scenery, serene beaches and luscious seafood. The Lobster House is my absolute favorite!

# 25 March 2009 at 9:15 am