First things first, Happy Earth Day! Think globally, act locally!
Every year when the N.H.L. playoffs begin, I turn their tradition of letting your beard grow for as long as your team is playing, into my own silly superstition. I won't shave until my team is eliminated and if they're out in the first round, I won't shave until one team wins the Stanley Cup. I've had some "Grizzly Adams" looking beards in years past.
This year, I didn't shave right before the playoffs began and my face is itching for a good close shave. I decided that, for Earth Day, I would not waste the water. Just trying to do my little bit to help Mother Earth, and you know, gotta support the team. I "Googled" climate deniers and superstitions, and one of the results was about "Hockey Sticks", I thought that was odd.
Superstitions come in a wide variety from many sources, and they are pretty funny upon examination. I know that the "hockey stick" reference was about a particular graph or chart, but I thought it might be fun to combine the two.
More below the goal line...
I do consider myself mildly superstitious, not a black cat, step-on-a-crack-break-your-mother's-back, Friday the 13th kind. I will not walk under a ladder, but that comes more from my job being dangerous and it's a safety thing. Obviously, being The 13th Floor, I don't suffer from triskaidekaphobia, and I'm an Ice Hockey fanatic, so I love sports superstitions.
I know that for hockey players, the playoff beard is just tradition, but I can not bring myself to completely shave during the playoffs. I will allow myself to trim my beard between rounds, but I can not shave it off. I know how silly it is, but I do it every year. I'm also rather odd when it comes to game time rituals, like wearing "lucky" clothes. I have two hats, two tee shirts, and three sweaters (technical name for a hockey jersey) that are "lucky". As odd as I am, the players themselves are wacky, from what they eat, to the order in which the dress for the game.
Hockey players will not walk across the team logo on their locker room floor, some put their razor sharp skates on, then put their pants on afterward, tearing the pants. Goalies are a breed unto themselves, perhaps the most superstitious athletes. Ron Hextall used to tap the goalposts and crossbar three times each with his stick, while talking to them. Very odd behavior from a professional.
If you find yourself in a conversation with someone today who happens to be a Global Climate Change denier, think of these silly things. Then, tell them that anyone who doesn't think that the science of GCC is real, that it's causes aren't man made and if we don't do something about it now it will be too late. Tell them that to deny this is nothing short of believing in a silly superstition.
That, and they might want to call their mother and make sure her back isn't, indeed, broken. Happy Earth Day!