The realization of a great truth.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. The Italians know how to milk the most out of holidays. They have far more days off for holidays than we Americans. Businesses close. And people either stay at home or celebrate with other forms of leisure activity. Take Thursday, for instance. It was a religious holiday. Epiphany. Time for Christians to celebrate the visit of the Magi to the infant Jesus. We had to stock up on supplies the day before. Because most stores would be closed on Epiphany. In the U.S., I suppose, merchants would take advantage of Epiphany by staying open 24 hours. So that everybody could shop. Spend money. At special Epiphany sales. To help the economy. Former president George Bush even encouraged us to go out and shop after 9/11. To live in our usual American-style capitalist way. That was Bush's epiphany. A sudden realization of a great truth. --Jim Broede