July, July!

As a lapsed Catholic, the one aspect of following the liturgical calendar that I miss most is Lent. This may be surprising to learn since Lent is not exactly the "money" season when it comes to Catholicism. It is the season of repentance, of atonement, of purification through (mild) acts of self-denial. That's what I miss. Now, don't psychoanalyze me or refer me to websites that can help me satiate my inner masochist. It's just that I've always been attracted to asceticism. You learn about yourself when you are doing without. You tend to be more mindful. This is not so in times of celebration. Exhibit A: as a lapsed Catholic I feel no compunction whatsoever about enjoying all of the secular trappings of Christmas or the Easter ham that awaits me later. These will be thoughtless pleasures and, as proof, I can give you every assurance that this will be the most I think about them all day.

But Lent is not something to be undertaken thoughtlessly. It is for reflection. So how will I meet that need? The answer, of course, is to become a spiritual plagiarist and copy the ritual in both form and essence. I have chosen July. My sacrifice? I will not use my car. This idea came to me recently because it seemed like a compelling topic to write about for the blog (hmmm, already the blog is dictating the content of my life as opposed to the other way around...). I have not yet worked out the logistics, but I do think it's important to announce my intent. Any help/advice/suggestions/hilarious nay-saying will be very welcome.

PS. For those of you who care, the title of this blog post comes from a song by The Decemberists, who are, in my opinion, the best band working in America right now. And the song very much conforms to my criteria for aesthetic excellence.