Mothers’ Day
Sunday, May 9th is Mothers’ Day. The O.P. takes a look back at the history of this Orthodox holiday, and honors one of Balboa’s own.
History of Mothers’ Day
Our tale begins in West Virginia in the late 1800s, when a woman by the name of Anna M. Jarvis had a daughter named Anna M. Jarvis. The elder Anna M. Jarvis dreamt that one day there would be a day honoring mothers. So when the elder Jarvis died in May 1905 before that happened, the younger Jarvis (known to her friends as “A. Jar”) announced on national television her desire for the creation of a holiday for mothers.
A. Jar’s family couldn’t afford touch lamps, but ever the consummate professional, Jarvis wrote her strongly worded letters using nothing but natural light. She busted her ass delivering her message to state governors and U.S. presidents asking for the creation of a holiday recognizing women. In 1914, Woody Wilson proclaimed the second Sunday in May “Mothers’ Day.”
Unfortunately, things didn’t work the way A. Jar expected. What started as faith—the Fifth Commandment says, “honor thy mother and me, thy sweet Lord”—soon turned ugly. Commercialization crept into the holiday, much to A. Jar’s dismay; and by 1923, A. Jar was arrested while protesting women selling carnations for Mothers’ Day. She was seen holding a sign reading, “You can take your carnations; but you can never take our car nation!”
As she advanced in age, A. Jar told a reporter she regretted ever starting Mothers’ Day. She died in 1948, a bitter old woman of 84. She had never even tried pesto. She leaves behind a son, Wayne, who was found ducking behind a couch.
The 2004 A. Jar Spirit Award
So, in memory of a woman who dedicated herself to her causes, only to regret it for the remainder of her life, we honor a local Balboan who best exemplifies the A. Jar spirit. This year, The O.P. is proud to award Lindsay Bluth-Fünke the 2004 A. Jar Spirit Award. Lindsay has dedicated her life to such worthy causes as “H.O.O.P.,” “Save the Wetlands”; all while raising a 14-year-old daughter, Maeby, who is actively involved in sabotaging said causes. As part of the award, Lindsay will receive full use of the A. Jar memorial elephant brooch. The O.P. will also donate $1,100 to the charity of her choice.
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