Relish

Although it will be difficult, we resist the urge to report this news in pirate-speak, so we'll deliver it to you straight: tomorrow is the 10th anniversary of Talk Like a Pirate Day.

Columnist Dave Barry gave the occasion its sea legs when he wrote about it in 2002.  (You might recall that Barry also took credit for Thanksgiving when he said that "almost nobody celebrated Thanksgiving until I began writing about it in the 1970s.")

Regardless, due to Barry (or more likely Johnny Depp), Talk Like a Pirate Day is now an international phenomenon (its Facebook page even noteing a pirate-themed celebration in Denmark). The "holiday" has spurned t-shirts, ringtones, songs, and even a sing-along (above).

Here in St. Louis, you can join in the fun at any Krispy Kreme store, where on September 19 customers who talk like a pirate receive a free donut and customers fully dressed as one receive a free dozen. Then head out to Faust Park for Talk Like a Pirate Family Fun Night at the St. Louis Carousel,  with a puppet show, unlimited carousel rides, and food trucks with "grub for your hungry scallywags." Continue the pirate party on the weekend of October 6, 7, and 8 at the Kansas City Renaissance Festival, when the theme is Pirate Ale Fest Weekend.  (Editor's Note: Anyone with kids should look into this event, easily worth the drive to Bonner Springs.)     

And do take a moment to read Jolly Joe Bonwich's snappy missive on the occasion, where he urges us to "Eat and drink like a pirate, too."   

We harken back to Dave Barry's original article, where he proposed a variation on the "Talk Like a..." theme: a "Talk Like a Member of the Lollipop Guild Day."  We're all over that. Free helium balloons for everyone!