Enlighten me...

Here's something I don't understand: celebrating the "anniversary" of something horrific.

As in, "The anniversary of my car accident is in 3 days!" or "The two year anniversary of my fall is coming up!"

An old friend of mine was in a pretty bad car accident several years ago. She got furious with me...and I mean furious...three or four years after it happened because I didn't remember the "anniversary" of it and acknowledge it with gifts and sympathy.

Don't get me wrong, I understand the ackowledgement I guess...like hey, I survived this. That's awesome. For you. For your life and healing process. But sometimes when I see things like that, it's almost as if that person is looking forward to it. Is it about attention?

My grandpa passed away when he was in his early 50's. My mom would sometimes say "My dad passed away 15 years ago (or whatever number) today." Of course she remembers that date, and we think of him...but I think we think of him all the time anyways. I know I do at least. I don't need to call it an anniversary because to me that's a celebratory occasion.

There are exceptions of course...like perhaps a divorce. Maybe because that might be the anniversary of getting your life back, being happy again, being in control again. That IS something to celebrate...but I bet if someone celebrating a divorce were to get married again, the date of the divorce wouldn't be so significant anymore. And if your divorce wasn't an occasion for relief, you aren't celebrating it anyways.

Maybe I'm being judgmental here...surprise, surprise, lol. But I've been in car accidents, had medical issues, had bad things happen. I remember feelings...I remember times of year maybe...but I can't remember much more than that. I guess that because in those instances, what I want most is to move on. I don't want to remember bad things. I'd rather celebrate happy things.