April 17 is Blah Blah Blah Day

Today is Blah Blah Blah Day, created in 2006 by Ruth and Thomas Roy of Wellcat Holidays and Herbs as a day to listen to the nagging words that usually register as a dial tone in the brains of those of us old enough to remember landlines.

When you translate the blah blah blahs into words, what do they say? “I just read this interesting article about gluten,” or “(Sports team) just beat (sports team),” or “Keira Knightley has really evolved as an actress,” or “But I just took out the garbage the other day,” or “Happy anniversary, what time did you make the reservation for at that fancy new restaurant I told you about that books up weeks in advance?” or the ever-popular, “Are you listening to me? What did I just say?”

While the Roys intended this holiday to be a time to pay attention and follow directions, it seems a bit heartless to raise expectations for the rest of the year. Maybe this is a day to double down on the “no habla blah blah,” crank Iggy Pop’s Blah Blah Blah and leave the earbuds in after it finishes. That way your loved ones will think you just can’t hear them when they’re talking to you. What a selfless, loving gift; they’ll never know how much you care.

Happy Blah Blah Blah Day!