Happy Summer

I bet you didn’t know it was World Turtle Day on Tuesday. Neither did I, until I read about Big Don (not that one), a 200-pound male loggerhead sea turtle, in the Wall Street Journal. Don, who sustained life-threatening injuries after getting tangled in a fishing line, was rehabilitated by the Turtle Hospital (you can’t make this stuff up) in the Florida Keys and then released back to his natural habitat on (when else?) World Turtle Day, which is May 23. Poor Don (lucky Don?) is a reminder to us all of the frailties of the world we live in and how careful we really have to be to make sure we are not doing irreparable damage.

Reading about W.T.D., coming as it does so close to Memorial Day, the unofficial start of summer, naturally put me in mind of the ocean, beach and BBQ.

But before I get to that, I want to pause to acknowledge the true meaning of the holiday. Memorial Day is a somber occasion to remember and honor our country’s service women and men who have given their lives for our nation. There is surely no greater sacrifice, and we owe a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid. Let us all be sure to pay tribute on Monday to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice so we can enjoy the liberties and freedom we so often take for granted.

Hopefully, on such an auspicious occasion, the sun will finally see fit to come out of hiding, after the seemingly endless deluge we’ve been having here in the Northeast. But rain or shine, the Weiner family will be joining the more than 50 million people estimated to travel at least 50 miles from their homes this long weekend, on the East End of Long Island. And at least on Saturday, which is supposed to be the best weather day of the weekend, we will fire up the long dormant BBQ, put on our sweatshirts, and hopefully enjoy some of the finest beaches anywhere.

We have a special fondness for Memorial Day at Marcum because it is the first holiday break of the year for our associates and partners. Tax and financial statement deadlines keep us at our desks well into the second calendar quarter, so naturally, that makes Memorial Day a particular favorite at our Firm (and the rest of the accounting industry). I hope everyone on the Marcum team has a fantastic weekend — they’ve all earned it!

And, of course, I wish the same for our clients and friends. However you and your family spend the holiday, I hope it is a relaxing and enjoyable time filled with good company, good food, and good weather.

Happy Memorial Day everyone.