{"id":2743,"date":"2026-04-19T11:20:03","date_gmt":"2026-04-19T15:20:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/writing\/?p=2743"},"modified":"2026-04-19T11:25:18","modified_gmt":"2026-04-19T15:25:18","slug":"metaphor-of-the-month-bluebird-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/writing\/2026\/04\/19\/metaphor-of-the-month-bluebird-day\/","title":{"rendered":"Metaphor of the Month! Bluebird Day"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"A<\/a>This week I’ll add a favorite new term, one I learned just recently from my friend Henry. I’ve known him since childhood, and I drove out to his farm to see how his animals were doing, help pick up some remaining firewood I’d cut in the Winter, and take a ride in his classic car.<\/p>\n

We were cruising down US 33 toward lunch in the town of Montpellier VA when Henry said “it’s a perfect Bluebird day today.” I love bluebirds and looked around, not seeing any, but the deep-blue sky reminded me of their plumage. The noon sky was cloudless, the air crisp, and (at least until the recent April heat wave) my instincts told me to promised a balance of cool weather, sun, and rain that typify early Spring in central Virginia.<\/p>\n

Today, some lovely rain has broken the hot-and-dry conditions. Tomorrow, when I hit the road, the forecast promises a few Bluebird days ahead. It’s perfect flying weather up to Bangor Maine, then to visit family in New Brunswick, Canada. Not sure if I’ll see any blue birds, but birding and wildlife watching in the Canadian Maritimes is a very rewarding pastime.<\/p>\n

So far, so good. Our metaphor simply means a cloudless day, and The Merriam-Webster Dictionary<\/a> online cites a first use of 1860 but no context.<\/p>\n

I turned to the OED for more guidance. Not a sausage, as the Brits say. I did learn elsewhere that skiers use the term and enjoy such days on the slopes. A blog post on the term<\/a> claims it originated with skiing. I don’t ski but I love to kayak or hike on a cool, cloudless day.<\/p>\n

Tomorrow I begin a short vacation; (semi)retirement means I can take them generally whenever I want. This post will be the last for a a few weeks. I’ll take us out with some Frank Sinatra, so the Chairman of the Board can send you and me on our way.<\/p>\n