Cheating

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If James Joyce had met Nora Barnacle on June 15, then Bloomsday would be on June 15. But, as it happens, James and Nora went out walking through Dublin on June 16. That is why Bloomsday is celebrated on the 16th. Got it?

I posted this photo on Facebook to express my annoyance. My mother and my sisters showed up to commiserate. The conversation went as follows.

Me: It would be like celebrating July 4 on July 3.
Mum: ????
Siobhan: Totally cheating. It’s not on freaking June 15th!
Me: Exactly!!
Jean: Hate this!
Jean: They should at least say “Bloomsday Eve”…
Me: I haven’t seen so many annoyed O’Malley siblings in one place since they re-worded the Nicene Creed.

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14 Responses to Cheating

  1. Doc Horton says:

    Did no one have a black Magic Marker to arrow in the EVE between the Bloomsday and the Celebration?

    • sheila says:

      I seriously thought about it but I do not believe in vandalizing public property – also this is a wonderful independent bookstore which I frequent as much as I possibly can. Because Yay for Bookstores That Still Exist.

      But still! The whole point of Bloomsday is to clear your schedule on the damn day. That’s the fun of it, the weirdness of it!

  2. Melissa Sutherland says:

    That last comment of yours, Sheila, made my day. And my day needing making. So thank you.

    • sheila says:

      Hahaha I am glad your day was made and I hope tomorrow is better!

      Yeah, we all stood in the back of the church on Christmas Eve and suddenly couldn’t recite the Nicene Creed by heart and we sat back there critiquing the new language under our breaths. Our mother had to Shush us. This was recently! Hahaha

  3. Melissa Sutherland says:

    My Episcopal church is very involved in liturgy and trying to find a balance between “old” and “new,” and it is a very difficult proposition, so I did get a good laugh out of your story. And it happened recently, too? That’s really funny.

    • sheila says:

      Yeah, the new wording blows. I still murmur it the old way. hahahahahaha.

      In many cases, they iron out the poetry. Make it prosaic, cuddly, Care Bear b.s.

      We were all whispering, “What IS this? What have they DONE??” hahaha.

  4. Brendan says:

    GUYS! What are we doing for Christmas Eve on the 23rd? Of November?

  5. Brendan says:

    P.S. I literally have never heard the term “Nicene Creed” and do not know what it is or was or the changes you are referring to but I will back you up in your outrage.

    • sheila says:

      Bren – You do know what it is. You just don’t know you know. You could probably recite it in your sleep too.

  6. brendan says:

    Well now I REALLY feel stupid. Hee hee!

  7. brendan says:

    …because I looked it up and STILL DON’T HAVE ANY BELLS RINGING!

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