May … it’s the most wonderful time of the year

It’s usually the end of April before the state of Indiana remembers that it is no longer winter. That’s when we typically start having more consistent warm weather.

Of course it’s still packed full of rain, then possibly snow again, then 80 degrees, then 40 degrees, but it’s about as consistent as Indiana is ever going to get.

This is the time of year that I come out of winter hibernation, where I had been hiding in indoor seclusion and packing away vats of chilis, stews, pastas, and all sorts of wintertime comfort foods. I walk outside and smell the fresh air and realize it’s time to break out the grill, lawn mower and gardening gloves. That’s right, it’s that time of year again. It’s MAY!!!!!!!!!!

Forgive my excitement, but it’s only the greatest of all time, most amazing, spectacular, incredible month of the year. And now it’s here! There’s so much going on, I don’t even know where to begin. I’m pretty sure this is the month Andy Williams was singing about, right? I should probably listen to the words of the song more closely, but I don’t have time right now. So, since It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, here is my tribute to the month of May!

By the fourth day, my month begins on a note that allows me to let out my inner nerd. That’s right, I’m a Star Wars junky. I’ve seen every episode of every movie and show, from live action to animated. Yep, I’ve even seen the Star Wars Holiday Special. Granted, it was difficult to sit through, but I made it. All my old action figures sit on a shelf in my son Pat’s bedroom. I’m in Facebook groups, subscribe to YouTube channels, and have read several of the books. I love it, can’t get enough, and want more.

If my wife, Megan, would let me, I’d walk around in Jedi robes on a daily basis. My minivan even made the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs just so I could come here and say to you, May the 4th be with you!! (Megan is definitely rolling her eyes hard at that one.)

Once I’m over my blue milk hangover (another Star Wars groaner joke), the next day will be a celebración fantástica. We put up decorations and eat all the best Mexican foods.

What are we celebrating? You guessed it! It’s my daughter Mary’s fifth birthday! Since she was born on Cinco de Mayo, we like to celebrate in true style. The difference between a Cinco de Mayo and a Cinco de Mary celebration is the overabundance of mermaids we will have at our party. Happy golden birthday, my little girl!

A mere week later, we get to celebrate some of the most special people on Earth. No, not Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce … sorry Swifties. It’s all those mothers out there.

Every Mother’s Day, I put my big boy chef’s hat on and go to work. I love spoiling Megan with a breakfast of eggs benedict and homemade scones. Once that is done, I make a deal with God for the weather to be nice, so she can go outside to do her favorite pastime, gardening. She even teaches our kiddos a thing or two about having a green thumb. While they are safely occupied, I immediately begin prep for yet another homemade meal. This time it’s a magnificent dinner consisting of some sort of grilled, smoked, or slowly braised meat. Nothing better than eating like a king on Mother’s Day. Or a queen, I guess. Either way, love you babe!

Just a couple short weeks later, Megan gets to celebrate again. But this time it’s with all her coworkers and their significant others. You see, Megan is a grade school teacher. And by this time of year, there is nothing a teacher is longing for more than that last day of school. Therefore, that last-day-of-the-year party is not to be missed. Since I’ve known Megan and all her peers, I’ve always said these two things about teachers.

1) No one complains more than a teacher who didn’t get a two-hour delay.

2) No one parties harder than a teacher on the last day of school.

It is so much fun to be part of the celebration of high fives and handstands, as the teachers say “sayonara” to all our snot-filled, germ-ridden bundles of joy. Well, for a couple months anyway. I salute our teachers and all they do.

All that leads straight into one of my favorite weekends of the year. I may have misled you at the beginning of this column. While I am a huge Star Wars fan (and nerd), I should probably come clean about my other, bigger obsession. I LOVE the Indy 500 and everything to do with IndyCar. Most of the shirts and hats I own don the wing and wheel logo. If you have never witnessed the pre-race festivities, traditions, or that first ear-splitting lap of the 500, there is no way for me to explain it. It must be experienced.

However, I didn’t just say it was one of my favorite days of the year. I said weekend. The race on Sunday is amazing, no doubt. But I also get to take my kids to the parade on Saturday, which are memories I treasure. But, most importantly, Monday is Memorial Day. We mustn’t forget the price that was paid for the cookouts, family parties, and games of cornhole we play. So, take some time to remember members of the military … past, present, and future. They are some of the greatest Americans to ever live.

The moral of the story is … Do your best not to pass out in the infield in Turn 3, so you can properly honor those who gave (and give) us the freedoms we enjoy this month and always. Have a great May!

Tim Rathz can be reached at 40somethinginfishers@gmail.com. Follow on Facebook or Instagram.