Today is April 1st—an international day for playing pranks that actually dates back many centuries. In the 16th century the Gregorian calendar was changed to reflect the New Year to start on January 1st rather than April 1st. News traveled slow in those days, as you might imagine. Those who hadn’t heard and still celebrated on April 1st were laughed at and called April Fools. Thus began a tradition that’s lasted all these years . . .
I don’t know about you, but there aren’t many pranks I’d welcome. Good humor does go a long way, though, and it’s only the prideful who can’t take a joke. Still, it depends on the spirit of the joke if it really deserves a laugh or not.
I only ever played one practical joke on anyone, and that was to a very good friend of mine. (Hey, who else could you trust than your very best friend?) It was her birthday, and I went to a carpet store for a few scraps of carpet padding. I cut them into neat round circles to match an 8″ cake pan size, piled them high to resemble a cake, then carefully stuck them together and frosted the whole thing. It was probably one of the prettiest cakes I’d ever made. (I’m more of a cookie connoisseur myself.) A group of us got together to surprise her for her birthday, but when she tried cutting into her lovely cake . . . well, needless to say she wasn’t sure whether to be embarrassed over a dull knife or my poor baking skills. We finally put her out of her sawing misery and told her the cake wouldn’t be cut, at least not with a cake knife.
We all laughed but she was already in good spirits because she was being celebrated, secure in our affection. Now that’s my kind of prank!
So . . . if anyone plays a prank on you today, I hope it’ll be put forth in the same positive spirit.
And now here’s something that isn’t a prank! Today only, 4/1/13, my brand new book, All In Good Time, is being offered by Tyndale House as a free e-book download. All you need do to take advantage of the offer is to act quickly! The free price ends today, Monday. But if by some chance you miss today’s deal, Tyndale will be offering special pricing of 2.99 on Tuesday and Wednesday, 4/2 and 4/3, then 4.99 on Thursday, Friday and Saturday (4/4, 4/5 and 4/6). Regular pricing of around $9.00 begins next Sunday.
Happy April Fool’s Day, be safe and positive, and Happy Reading!
Links to buy All In Good Time:
(Special pricing is in regard to e-books only.)
PS I’m visiting my friend Lyn Cote’s blog today, where I talk a little about some of the research I did for All In Good Time. Click here to visit with me there!
April’s fool day was quite at my house. No tricks this year. Have you read where this day is suppose to be a Holiday for Atheist? Was supposed to have been a comment from Judge to someone complaining that they had no holiday. 🙂 I would love to have this book in my bookshelves, after reading it. Maxie Anderson