June 1, 2017

Today we celebrate:

Dare Day - Challenge someone today. Dare someone to do something, it doesn’t matter what it is. It could be anything because, after all, the person you are daring doesn’t have to actually do it. I always tell my children to ignore their friends when the “dare” word comes out because nothing good comes from it. So be as outlandish as you want, and let’s hope the daree has some sense to say no.

Don’t Give Up The Ship Day - This day is about Captain James Lawrence of the U.S. Frigate Chesapeake. He is known for saying, “Tell the men to fire faster and not to give up the ship; fight her till she sinks!” before he died. Well, history kind of indicates that the truth about the battle that this ship was engaged in, and the conduct of the crew was not as noble as the quote suggests. But, regardless, “Don’t give up the ship!” remains a popular naval motto in times of stress.

International Children’s Day - This day has been celebrated in many countries on this day since 1950, but many other countries celebrate on different days. There are too many for me to list here, I don’t have that kind of energy. The day first came about in 1925 when it was proclaimed by the World Conference for the Well-being of Children, but it wasn’t until 1950 that a specific day was chosen. I will note that there is a Universal Children’s Day on November 20 that was created by the United Nations and it’s different, but at the same time….kind of the same.

Global Day of Parents - Well, if you are going to celebrate children, it only makes sense to also celebrate the people who created the children, the parents. Parents move heaven and earth to do whatever they need to do to protect and nurture their children. They provide love, food, shelter, and band-aids, and really what else does a kid need? Recognizing this, the United Nations, in their infinite wisdom and free time, created this day to honor parents all over the world.

Wear A Dress Day - Begun in Bend, Oregon on April 17th, 2010, after a couple of friends were talking about dresses and how beautiful women look in them and isn’t it a shame that so many women don’t wear them very often any more. There was a time when women had no choice but to wear a dress. They would have been horrified if they had been forced to wear anything else. So don’t wait for a special occasion to get all dressed up, wear one today just because it’s fun. This day is also celebrated on December 1st.

New Year’s Resolution Recommitment Day - I think it’s pretty obvious what this day is about. The website I referenced is slightly incorrect since they say it’s been six months since New Year’s occurred and it’s really only been five. There is another day on July 1st that is about recommitting to New Year’s promises and I think that one is more accurate. But if you reevaluate your resolutions now, you’ll have a jump on it next month and I don’t think that’s a bad thing.

Oscar The Grouch Day - Yes, even Oscar the Grouch has a birthday every year, whether or not he wants one. But really, it’s all in the thought behind the gift. I wouldn’t want a triple layer birthday cake that contains chicken and mint flavoring topped with sardine frosting, an empty box as a gift, and a pinata filled with garbage, but then again, I’m not a grouch. Clearly, this is a day for Sesame Street fans, of which I have always been one. I watched this great kids show when I was little, and I watched it some more when my kids were little. It’s been a few years now, but I hope it’s still going strong when I eventually (no need to rush on this now) have grandchildren.

Stand for Children Day - This is a day that was first celebrated on this day in 1996 at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. with a small gathering of only about 300,000 people. That’s the size of my family reunions. Hmmm...maybe we should have our next one at the Lincoln Memorial, it seems like a great place to get together. I’ll talk to Aunt Stella about it. Anyway, this group has grown by leaps and bounds over the years since then and has been instrumental in lobbying Congress to create some legislation that is beneficial for the children of our country in the areas of education and health care.

World Milk Day – First celebrated in 2001, this is a day to focus attention on milk and the benefits the world receives from milk. It is an important source of calcium which is good for maintaining strong bones. Let's appreciate the dairy farmers who look after their cows every day as well. Cows have to eat, and be cared for, every day so that they are healthy and give good quality milk and so these farmers don't get many days off. Some countries have chosen to celebrate this day either a week before or a week after today. In addition, let it be known that there has been a revival of the old fashioned glass milk bottle home delivery in some areas. Here’s one place, but there are more so if you would be interested in that service, which would be great for reducing the garbage in landfills, check with your local dairy farms.

National Hazelnut Cake Day – Hazelnut adds a nutty flavor to any already delicious cake and turns the ordinary into the extraordinary.

Flip a Coin Day – Some of the most important decisions in our lives are decided by a flip of the coin. I wouldn't pick a spouse that way, but picking a vacation spot or deciding who washes the dishes...you bet!

Heimlich Maneuver Day - Invented by Dr. Henry Heimlich in 1974, the Heimlich Maneuver is now standard practice for saving someone who is choking. It’s something that everyone can learn and you just never know when you might be called upon to use it to save someone. There are posters in just about every cafeteria in the United States with directions on how to perform this life saving move.

National Go Barefoot Day - This is a day that was created by Soles4Souls for the purpose of donating gently used or new shoes to people who have lost everything because of natural disasters. There are many natural disasters in the world every year. No place is immune as far as I can tell. Countless numbers of people have lost everything and had to start over with nothing. Shoes may seem like a small thing, but if you don’t have any, it becomes huge. I would recommend that you focus on donating practical footwear so stay away from high heels and think about where your donation is going. They don’t need snow boots in warm countries or flip flops in cold countries in the winter.

Say Something Nice Day – Four years ago, Mayor Keith Summey of North Charleston declared this day for the purpose of spreading healthy and positive communication. The plan is to start with saying positive things to yourself, then move on to smiling at everyone you see, graduating to contacting a friend you haven't talked to in a while and finally, writing a love letter to someone you love.

National Moonshine Day - Celebrated on the first Thursday in June, today we honor the colorful and very interesting history of Moonshine and the men and women who made it in secret in old bathtubs and backyard stills.