Is it me, or are there more designated “days” on our calendars than there used to be?
I don’t mean days or the week or month; I mean days set aside to celebrate things. I personally think Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, however well intentioned, are a conspiracy to make people feel guilty.
We should honor and respect our parents every day. I certainly want EVERY mother to be appreciated. It is the hardest job on Earth! But who came up with this idea – probably a card company? Someone in a slumped marketing office who needed to sell cards, flowers or chocolate?
My daughter reported at our Mother’s Day Lunch that she picked out a card for me but when she realized it didn’t flash lights, sing a song or even have glitter, and it cost $6, she put it back. Good call; she could buy me lunch at one of my favorite eateries for about the same amount. She knew I would have had a slight stroke if I turned the card over to see that the average worker would have had to labor three quarters of an hour for that little card stock.
Not all the new holidays have cards or are on the calendar. So many of us are unaware of the newer ones, but they are catching on and gaining popularity. Before long we will have something to feel guilty about forgetting every day of the year.
Somewhere I saw an advertisement stating that the first Friday in June is supposed to be Donut Day. It got me thinking – I bet every day is some sort of celebration of something ordinary. I did some research, (loosely translated – I Googled it) and found I was right. Jan. 2 is Cream Puff Day, Jan. 3 is Chocolate Covered Cherry Day, the 4th is Spaghetti Day, the 5th is Whipped Cream Day (all of this as we start our diets after the real holidays). The last day of January goes out with one of my personal favorites, Popcorn Day.
February has such delights as Stuffed Mushroom Day and Bagels and Lox Day.
My Daddy, who is dearly departed, must be delighted that his birthday is actually Cook a Sweet Potato Day. Who knew?
I am amazed that the card section of Target hasn’t exploded! What a chore it must be to keep up with all these new special days. I wonder who gets to decide? I suppose it’s clear who benefits – the people who sell all this stuff, right down to the Sweet Potato Digger’s Union. I don’t believe anyone could possibly be left out.
Today I was informed by Facebook that it is National Chicken Dance Day. I hope there are no $6 cards to commemorate such. I can’t even imagine who might be gaining economically by declaring Chicken Dance Day, but that song is now stuck in my head, thank you very much, and you’re welcome. If you are reading this on Friday, well, it’s Friday, and that is special enough. Saturday is Cherry Cobbler Day, and we’ll wrap up the weekend with Cheese Souffle Day.
Whatever day it is, I hope you are having a good one.
Angie Brown is a humorist who loves being a wife, mother and grandmother. She lives in Opelika with her husband of 31 years and four of their seven children.