Happy Handcart Eve (Oct. 22)

There are world wide holidays (the end or World Wars I and II for example) and there are national holidays (many countries have an Independence Day as well as other culturally important days of celebration)... and hopefully you have identifies some personal, family or other group specific holidays. Many of these group centric celebrations are religiously tied but birthdays and anniversaries are personal holidays (or more accurately express: holy-days).

I have identified a personal holiday, the celebration of which may be unique to me. I'm guessing there are a handful of other people who also take some time every Oct. 22nd and 23rd to honor the day and historical events that took place 154 years ago. Most people have no idea what I'm talking about or why my reverence. I will direct you to my blog post from last year rather than recount the story again here. And even if you are not Mormon, not a Christian or not even a believer in a soveriegn God, there is enough in this story to celebrate because it speaks largely of the human experience of following convictions, of suffering and sacrifice, of rescue, and of the indominable spirit that has brought us to where we are today. We stand on the shoulders of men and women who gave their all -enduring a much darker, bleaker and messier existence- so that we can enjoy so much comfort, ease and opportunity.