What’s on My Mind Today? Leap Year and Sadie…

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Guest Post by Sammie Thompson

Sometimes a simple statement or phrase in conversation can start a whole big “thang.” Working on my calendar for next month, I realize February has 29 days. That means it’s leap year. 

Also, February 29th is ‘’Sadie Hawkins Day.” I haven’t done anything really funny/silly for no reason for some time, so when a creative thought came to mind, I shared with my girls, an idea about doing something just for fun.

In the running family text with my 5 daughters, one of them who probably didn’t know anything about Sadie Hawkins Day BEFORE googling it, promptly informed me I was wrong—that ‘Sadie Hawkins Day’ is on November 12th.

Hmmm. …maybe I had been wrong…no, wait…on February 29th, custom, tradition goes way back that makes it socially acceptable for a woman to ask a man to marry her! This triggered something else about November, but what?

Then I recalled the Sadie Hawkins Day dances in high school: girls ask boys out; some even costume up, while I, being in photography class, take pictures for the school paper. Of course. Now comes the memory of Li’l Abner—a cartoon strip which was wildly popular for 40 some years—created by Al Capp, considered by some to be the greatest cartoonist of the 20th century.

Now my girls are busy researching! Li’l Abner: gorgeous hunk of a young man who’s not too quick on the uptake. Adored and desired by beauteous Daisy Mae who wants to “marry up wif’ him,” but he’s a fast runner. The hillbilly town of Dogpatch, USA—filled with so many colorful characters ya cain’t even count ’em. But enough to turn the comic strip into numerous cartoons, a 3-year hit musical on Broadway, and finally a movie with live actors!

My girls do not remember me singing these songs when they were little. One of my favorites was “Jubilation T. Cornpone.” Now they are sharing the history of the original Sadie Hawkins, and the fictional one popularized by Al Capp. It was easy to find the comic strips online, cartoons that might have been Saturday morning TV fare for the kids, and the movie free on You Tube !!! Not much is heard about these November celebrations any more.

I guess the same is for February 29th. A few leap years back, one of my silly moods arrived, wanting to do something off the wall, “just for fun.“ Emphasis on fun. For the sake of silly. Nothing else. Basically I live like a hermit, alone, with very little if any social life outside of working my not-for-profit music business, plus church-related activities and responsibilities, and family. I swore off any and all “relationships” since ending the last disaster in 1991. Never mind about that. Decided best just to work on myself.

My men friends are like brothers I have known for probably 25-50 years, with whom I am able to be comfortable with the various aspects of myself in the safe zone. That’s what I thought at the time. So late one night, in a goofy mood, I created a humorous kind of Daisy Mae email, sent to 5 or 6 of them in which my plea was to “marry up wif’ me” knowing it would bring them at least a smile, maybe a hearty laugh.

God knows we all could use a good laugh more often. I was very cheery about it until one of them responded with a gentle email that must have take quite a bit of time to compose, explaining how he loves me as a dear friend and spiritual brother and was so sorry he would not be able to accept my proposal.

OMG.…If the floor could have opened up and swallowed me whole, I would have gone willingly. Had he not been so lovingly sincere I could have called him up and razzed the be-jeepers out of him, but this called for a whole ‘nother thang. Now I must contemplate and ask Spirit to provide me with the best sincere response—words to transcend feeling as uncomfortable as each of us did at that moment. I was deeply regretful. Spirit lovingly guides me through it, so that he can enjoy the intended humor and relax that he does not have to adopt Lil Abler’s technique and run like…well, you know what.

One of my brother friends had once volunteered (as in “no one asked him his opinion”) this observation: “Your sense of humor is going to get you in trouble.” I refrained from telling him he could use one. He was right of course. It has gotten me into a bit of the sticky wicket at times, yet on many more occasions, it has also saved the moment, the situation, the day. It has been a very good tool, though not appropriate for every occasion—not a fool proof one size fits all thing.

In the spiritual path I follow, one of the techniques to refer to and use in uncertain situations is: before speaking, ask these 3 questions: Is it true? Is it necessary? Is it kind? These are very useful tools. I often ask a fourth one: Is it funny? If it is funny and will not hurt anyone or anything, I might opt for that. It depends on my inner guidance. Yes, I do ask for that. And yes, I even follow IT. Yes, I do. Do so!

Caution is needed more now as in an uplifted state following a spiritual event, because I’d come across a new term I thought was jolly—and since neither of us had plans—I asked a new friend if he would be my Pal-entine and let me reciprocate his lunch hosting by providing dinner on the 14th. Oh, my. History repeats. 

His response was definitely Li’l Abner. Run, rabbit, run! H’aint seen hide nor hair o’him evah since. Ah reckon he might could even be in South America by now.

But ah ain’t no Daisy Mae. Golly heck, no…Ah hain’t runnin’ after no man! Or anythin’ else, neither.

Cue exit song titles: “Oops! I did it again!” “So Long, It’s Been Good To Know Ya” and “Alone Again, Naturally.” LOL.

In my experience, humor is a most underrated spiritual tool. It can diffuse the most heated emotional situations and bring about an instant release of negtivity. Laughter is a medicine that dissolves differences into the reality of their absurdity, clearing the way for love to re-enter, for love is really the greatest healer of all.

Maybe that’s one reason I was led into the field of entertainment. So in the here and now, I am still what I am—a work in progress—wanting to do something special for Sadie Hawkins (Leap Year) Day. I’d like to get others involved so there could be a fun sharing. Sense of humor, anyone?

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Please note: Images on this site are for illustration only unless otherwise specified. Any resemblance to actual people, either living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Sammie Thompson has been a singer and musician all her life, expressing love through her professional career as songwriter, entertainer, concert and recording artist.  As a certified therapeutic musician, she became a greater vehicle for Divine Love. Sammie’s uplifting harp and piano selections at myriad Eckankar events have inspired audiences throughout the US and internationally. 

Her CD titled “From the Heart of Love,” recorded with Rodney Jones, features an instrumental version of the popular song, “This Is Love.” It is also available as an MP3.

Sammie may be contacted via email here.