By Peggy McKee Barnhill
For the Juneau Empire
I discovered a fabulous website, www.nationaldaycalendar.com. You may already know and love this list of over 1,500 national days, averaging four different choices for each day. Like a minister choosing the lectionary text for the Sunday morning service, you get to pick the one that speaks to you at the moment.
There are so many awesome national days in the month of April alone. We start the month with April Fools’ Day, of course. Did you know that April 1 is also National One Cent Day? No fooling.
If you like posting family photos on social media, you’ve got extra opportunities in the second week of April. April 10 is National Siblings Day, followed closely by National Only Child Day on April 12 so no one feels left out. April 14 is National Ex-Spouse Day. How long will it be before the greeting card industry gets in on this one, I wonder?
April 15 is National Tax Day, as we all know, but it’s also National Take a Wild Guess Day. Yeah, that’s how I do my taxes (just kidding, IRS!) The following day is National Bean Counters Day, as well as National Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day (after pulling an all-nighter to get your taxes in, no doubt).
Today, April 21, is National Chocolate Covered Cashews Day. I might have to go out for a treat after I submit this essay. By contrast, yesterday was National Lima Bean Respect Day. Have a little respect, folks. Hmm, what does it say about me that I have lima beans in the house, but no chocolate covered cashews?
Tomorrow is National Earth Day, as well as National Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day. What better way to get some extra help picking up trash at the office’s Earth Day service project?
On Sunday, April 25, when this essay will run in the newspaper, we will mark National Pet Parents Day, a time to celebrate the people who love and cherish their pets. Give your furbaby a little extra snuggles today. And for those petless individuals who crave a bit of closeness as well, Sunday is also National Hug a Plumber Day. It’s not quite the same thing, but still…
Moving on to May, we find many worthy days, like National Teacher Appreciation Day on May 4, National Senior Health and Fitness Day on May 26, and Memorial Day on May 31. There are also a lot of fun and whimsical days in May.
May 3 is National Lumpy Rug Day, as well as National Two Different Colored Shoes Day. Is it just me, or is there a cause and effect relationship here?
May 9 is National Lost Sock Memorial Day, set aside to remember all those socks that have gone missing in the dryer or the dark recesses of a child’s room. Coincidentally, May 9 is also Mother’s Day this year. The next day, May 10, is National Clean Up Your Room Day. I’m not making this up.
My personal favorite for the month of May is May 17, National Pack Rat Day. I claim this day as my own, a day to celebrate all of us pack rats out there with our talent for collecting things that might come in handy some day. I do take issue with the description of this auspicious day, which suggests that we use it as a “cleanup holiday” in which we re-evaluate our hoarding habits. I was hoping for more national recognition of this unique gift.
We can all get behind National Be a Millionaire Day on May 20th, even if it is a thought exercise rather than a guaranteed financial windfall. The website suggests that we “imagine what it would be like to be a millionaire. And then, gently bring yourself back to reality.” They should call it “National Wish You Were a Millionaire Day” instead.
May 21st is simultaneously National Bike to Work Day and National Pizza Party Day. I guess you don’t have to pick one over the other.
We finish up May with National Speak in Complete Sentences Day on May 31. Tough to do! If you interpret the word “speak” to include texting, you may find this to be a challenge. LOL.
May 31 is also National Smile Day, but you don’t need to wait until then to gimme a smile!
• Peggy McKee Barnhill is a wife, mother, and author who writes cozy mysteries under the pen name “Greta McKennan.” She likes to look at the bright side of life.
