Right on the button, at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, July 1, I turned on my television and selected channel 326 (Direct TV), to start my day with my usually scheduled day opener as I sip my coffee, that being The Andy Griffith Show, where much to my frustration, I was treated to the opening of a GFAM, a family oriented television channel) where I was welcomed by the beginning of a “Christmas in July” movie, bumping Andy and the Mayberry gang out for what is my guess would be the next 31 days of, what I consider to be, one of the most ridiculous, unwelcome traditions ever created. As I thought of how dumb this tradition is (as there is only one Christmas and it’s in December) I thought of another celebration that was created, equally ridiculous, but one I like myself, and is too, celebrated in December, and asked myself, “If people can celebrate Christmas in July, why not Festivus too?” So, you celebrate your thing, and I’ll celebrate mine.

Festivus, as many know, is the fictional holiday created by Frank Costanza, a character on Seinfeld, with its own special traditions, opening with the Airing of Grievances, before getting to the Feats of Strength. The opening of the Airing of Grievances begins with the line, “I got a lotta problems with you people, and now you’re gonna hear about it.” Many times, I feel that way, so I thought I’d open this 2025 Airing of Grievances, marking it my first celebration of Festivus in July.

My first grievance has to do with, guess what, Christmas in July. I’m sure there are many (of which I’m not one) who love Christmas in July. If you’re fans of the movies, I have nothing against romance. Despite what many think of me, I happen to be very romantic. I’m romantic about my family, as they mean everything to me. I’m romantic about music, and especially what I think the lyrics of many songs mean, and how they relate to life and learning. I’m romantic about songs that Chasy played in Orchestra, and how much practice she put into Orchestra and Choir, and how proud I am of her, and if/when I hear the Pachelbel Canon, or A’Cappela’s Kyrie, it always me thinks of her and the amazing worker, person, and mother she became.

I’m romantic when I see all the creative pieces Chrissy has produced in and things she’s created from scrap wood, metal, and on canvas too. I used to feel embarrassed when people would tell me they saw her roaming the streets during Spring Cleanup doing her version of “Dumpster Diving,” but the embarrassment quickly vanished when I saw what she was able to do with them. Those pieces remind me of how hard she works and how talented a woman and mother she became.

I’m romantic about my favorite sport which, most of you know, is baseball. I recall almost every game of catch I’ve had with Jon (the most special ones being at the Field of Dreams, and 15 minutes before his wedding in 2018), all the games we (all of us) have gone to in our lives, and later with Jon and Sally after the girls left to begin their adult lives. Included in those were many MLB Opening Days, Playoff Games, some Minor League Games, Jon’s playing games from age 5 to 23, the Cooperstown Kids Experience, the Tribe Fests, and how proud we are of him knowing what he wanted to do career-wise since 5th grade, and doing it, and how he balanced sports, activities, training, then committed to being a husband, now a father, and the man he became.

I’m especially romantic when I look at my bride, Sally. I get emotional when I hear the first song we danced to, remember how we once sat in Sambo’s Restaurant all night drinking coffee, just laughing, how we went to McDonalds’, in gown and tux, after our wedding reception (about 8 hours after the wedding dinner) because we were hungry and weren’t going on our honeymoon until a week later, so there was no rush to go anywhere.) I’m romantic when we reminisce about the concerts, theater shows, trips (including Hawaii and Vegas) and all the memories we are still able to remember.

I’m also very romantic by the opportunities I’ve been given in this life, and ones I made for myself and ones given to me, too, which have become cherished memories. So, I’m not against romance. I’m just against Christmas in July.

Next grievance, I’m saddened by is what our city’s become. Don’t get me wrong, there are great people in this town, but it’s sad to drive around (on many roads with more craters than the moon), and see so much deterioration, so many abandoned homes and businesses, so many used car lots on lawns, so many free furniture displays on street aprons, and I’m disheartened by many deaf ears belonging to people in positions who could make people accountable for not following codes, maybe rectifying some of this which paints an unpleasant picture of this city, a city I’ll always defend as a once beautiful city, one being a great place to grow up and have fun.

Another grievance is my sympathy for all my fellow educators, some with whom I worked, some I never met, and what they’re going through in schools today. Teachers are strapped finding time to actually teach, as they’re being asked to be part-time parents, counselors, disciplinarians, referees, and entertainers, etc. All this takes time from their responsibilities of being full-time teachers. Sadder, is that many demand that teachers do these extras and, also want to tell them how to do them.

Next grievance is what’s happening in the Diocese of Buffalo, of which I’ve been a part since Thursday, April 23, 1953, though I don’t really remember the first six months or so. Many have read what’s going on within the diocese. Churches are closing, parishes are merging, properties are being sold, as the diocese is concentrating completely on paying off lawsuits from abusive transgressions by clergy. There are hundreds of questions, but very few answers. Many, myself included, feel we’re being lied to by an almost invisible bishop (he sends reps to speak to media, run informational meetings, he doesn’t reply to appeals made by parishes involving Canon Law procedures which may, or may not be, being violated by his office) and he’s now forcing, yes forcing, parishes to “gift” huge amounts of their donations to their parishes to pay for the transgressions. A gift is a voluntary donation to a person, institution, or religious community, etc. We, the parish to which I belong, are being forced to “gift” over $1.3 million to do our “share” in helping pay off settlements resulting from said transgressions, with which we played no part.

Last grievance until December’s Festivus, does it seem like we’ve lowered standards and accepted less than quality work from our students, workers, businesses, and community? In places, sub-50 grades may not be given, even if a student does nothing, and discipline has become negotiable, often determined by parental threats, sometimes lawyers. Job applicants show up to interviews poorly dressed (no, gowns/tuxes aren’t necessary), then proceed to tell the interviewer what they want to do at their job, when they want to work, what days off they want, etc. Businesses are slacking off bigtime regarding Customer Service. We’ve gone from “The customer is always right,” to “I’ll be with you in a minute,” said with cell phone in hand or pressed to their ears. And evidenced by deteriorated roads, vacant lots with remains of fires not cleaned up, and mini-jungles dotting our city, and not much being done about them, it seems like the adage, “Good, Better, Best, never should you rest, until your good becomes your better, and your better is your best,” needs to become a mantra for citizens, and city officials, by which we could/should live.

Last comment, start training, the Feats of Strength are coming in December. Happy Festivus!