Monday, May 17, 2010

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY … STILL?


Okay. I get it. Some people really love their mothers. I mean, really love their mothers.

A local restaurant proudly proclaimed on their marquis, three days before Mothers Day, “To The Greatest People On The Earth. Happy Mothers Day.”

As I passed by the restaurant today, their proclamation was still on display. Fully twelve days of ensuring that every one knows that they believe mothers are “the greatest people on the earth.”

And maybe you’re thinking, what could Mr. E possible have against such a loving display?

Well actually, a number of things.

First, it’s Mothers Day. It’s not Mothers Week. It’s definitely not Mothers Day Week. Nor is it Mothers Day Week-and-a-half. Nor even Mothers Fortnight, which the sign is only days from being on display. It’s Mothers Day.

Something more appropriate would have been, “We Love Our Mothers.” That, they could keep on display forever, as far as I’m concerned. But if you’re going to use a “holiday” as a means of generating business, then use it properly. The three days before – okay. The day of – absolutely. The day after – maybe. But almost two weeks? No.

Second, the notion that mothers are “the greatest people on the earth,” is understandably arguable.

Of course, I don’t know if their intent in using the word, greatest, was for its superlative meaning, or its non-superlative meaning.

If they meant it more in its slang usage, then it was fine. Everyone is given to hyperbole and exaggeration. My neighborhood is the “best.” Our hotdogs are the “world’s finest.” My wife is the “most beautiful.” You get it.

The problem of course, is if they meant it in its superlative form. That is, that there is absolutely, positively, unequivocally no group of people anywhere on the earth, that is better than mothers.

With Fathers Day coming up next month, I can think of at least one group that might argue with that statement. Although they would argue very quietly, deep in the bowels of a distant cave somewhere, far, far away from the ears of a certain group of people.

I’m looking forward to see what the restaurant does with that “holiday.”

Will their marquis proclaim: “To The Second Greatest People On The Earth – Happy Fathers Day.” Perhaps they’ll say: “They can’t surpass mothers, but Happy Fathers Day Anyway.” Another possibility: “Last month we were kidding. We really meant to say, to the greatest people on the earth – Happy Fathers Day.” Or maybe just, “Fathers – Whatever.”

And will they keep their proclamation up for two weeks?

We’ll see.

1 comment:

  1. "With Fathers Day coming up next month, I can think of at least one group that might argue with that statement. Although they would argue very quietly, deep in the bowels of a distant cave somewhere, far, far away from the ears of a certain group of people."

    - good thinking ;)

    ReplyDelete