Thank You, Anna Jarvis!

Who the hell is Anna Jarvis?  She campaigned for the creation of a day to honor mothers, and she began her campaign in 1908.  She was successful when, in 1914, Mother's Day became an officially-recognized holiday. 

But by 1923, the holiday had become far too commercial for her.  She decried the laziness of the people who were too indolent to write a letter, but bought a greeting card instead.  That commercialization was not what she had had in mind.  So she campaigned against that! 

But clearly she was not successful.  Restaurants, FTD and Hallmark all rub their fingers together greedily when the second Sunday in May rolls around. 

Of note:  today's featured band at the South Bay New Orleans Jazz Club is the ensemble Jazz America, a full orchestra of young people who are learning about New Orleans Jazz and playing it with skill and gusto.  They all do their mothers proud.