September

If you are a parent, you quietly enjoy the freedom. It’s September, and the kids are back in school.   And if you are back in school, you balance your resignation with the excitement of seeing old friends again. Some of us follow the monarch butterfly’s annual migration. Some of us follow the Rugby World […]

Remember Lily Tomlin’s snorting, sarcastic portrayal of the telephone operator in the television series, “Laugh-In”?   Although her character of Ernestine kept viewers in stitches, the first real female telephone operator was just the opposite. During the late 1800s, the Boston Telephone Dispatch Company began hiring boys to man the switchboards.   Bad idea. For […]

In the 1850s, New York City was short on prime real estate and deep into establishing our nation’s financial centers. Chicago’s population exploded from less than 100 hardy souls in 1830 to more than 30,000 just two decades later. These two historic facts alone do not explain Skyscraper Day. Still, they give you an idea […]

For those of you who have been late to every scheduled event since the delayed moment of your birth, this will be a day like any other. However, those of you who are hopelessly punctual can turn the tables without guilt. Today is Be Late For Something Day, observed annually on September 5. You can […]

As football season approaches, the first Saturday in September leads the way with Tailgating Day. This is a fun, tasty way for die-hard fans to come together and pay homage to the football-food culture. Most tailgating takes place in stadium parking lots prior to kick-off. As the name implies, these parties are hosted from the […]

Congratulations!   You are a devoted member of one of the largest clubs that humans have ever embraced.   You are a procrastinator, putting off for tomorrow what should be done today. Don’t feel bad, at some point in life, we’ve all owned a membership card. Fight Procrastination Day, observed annually on September 6, is […]

Labor Day, celebrated on the first Monday in September, once a day in which we acknowledged our nation’s workers, has transcended into a last hurrah and final farewell to summer. We take to the shores for a day of sun and surf, or gather with friends and family for a finale of backyard barbecues before […]

How will you observe International Literacy Day? Observed annually on September 8, this day celebrates reading, learning, and global literacy. If you’re reading this article, you are more fortunate than 775 million adults worldwide, whose illiteracies are closely linked to poverty and discrimination. If you would like to celebrate the wonderful gift of literacy, here […]

Pardon Day was inspired by the exoneration of Richard Nixon of any wrongful involvement in the Watergate scandal.   President Ford’s confident day of hope happened on September 8, 1974. This is the day to beg forgiveness for any social infractions you may have committed. Apologize profusely for utterances of rudeness or insult. You didn’t […]

He is a childhood friend who never ages. He might get a little ragged around the seams, but his ability to make us smile never grows old. He’s made that way, and we love it. That is why we celebrate Teddy Bear Day on September 9. He’s more than a toy. He’s a best friend. […]

Give a nod to dining history by celebrating TV Dinner Day, observed annually on September 10.   We have all enjoyed at least one of these quick, easy meals. The TV Dinner is one of the most iconic symbols of American food culture. During World War II, women entered the workforce locally while men served […]

Do you remember spending countless hours wielding a joystick playing “Pac Man,” “Donkey Kong” and “Pole Position”.   Or perhaps your thumbs got marathon workouts as you honed your skills at “Sonic the Hedgehog” or “Mario Brothers”.   Get ready to dust off those old game cartridges and revel in a day of play on […]

Pets play a significant role in our lives.   From the unconditional love they give us to their faithful companionship, the unique bond we share is unforgettable. When that bond is broken by their sad departure the void can be unbearable.   Pet Memorial Day, observed annually on the second Sunday in September, celebrates the […]

She is Gramma or Granny. He is Grampa or Gampy.   Whatever you may call them, the unique bond is one to be cherished.   On Grandparents’ Day, observed annually on the first Sunday after Labor Day, we take time to honor, and remember, these loving individuals. Grandparents are special. They lavish us with love, […]

Fire up the grill and take up your spatulas to an all-American classic on Cheeseburger Day, celebrated annually on September 18.   This is the perfect day to host a burger party.   Just remember that creating a good burger requires thinking outside the bun. Cheeseburgers are made from ground beef that is formed into […]

Some dates on the calendar are all about celebration. We embrace the joy of different holidays.   Other dates are about remembrance.   We reflect with respect and longing. On the third Friday in September, we honor those we have lost, through their military service, by observing National POW/MIA Recognition Day. The flag that commemorates […]

It has its own rich colors and delicious aromas. The days are a little shorter, and things begin to slow down. Still, there’s a sense that we need to prepare. The squirrels chatter and dash and scold us for taking it easy. They don’t see past their nests to the tops of the trees, but […]

Life may not always be a bowl of cherries, but on Cherries Jubilee Day, observed annually on September 24, a luscious treat can provide a jubilant outlook. This classic dessert was pushed backstage while the more trendy confections, tiramisu and lava cakes, took turns in the spotlight. But this is the holiday on which to […]

Lots of lobsters will have a bad day when National Lobster Day rolls around on September 25, and the unsuspecting crustaceans are plunged into pots of boiling water.   They are savored in a variety of culinary presentations, from creamy chowders and rich pasta to the sandwich in a roll. However, the traditional boiled lobster […]

If you imagine him dressed in ragged clothes complemented by a tin pot hat, historic drawings support that impression. Stories about his dedication to the ordinary act of planting and nurturing trees are also well-documented. The Johnny Appleseed of legend was a simple, religious man who introduced his beloved fruit throughout northeast America during the […]

The name could be snazzier, but our state and local governments, nonprofits, and other federal agencies rarely master catchy phrases. And though they do not always play well together either, National Public Lands Day celebrates a remarkable alliance between all the powers that be and the rest of us. Every year, it happens on the […]

Your family tree is filled with intrigue, secrets and stories waiting to be revealed.   September 27 is the perfect day to announce to the world, “I’m going to climb my family tree!”   Today is Ancestor Appreciation Day. Most of us are well versed in who our parents and grandparents are, no sleuthing skills […]

We are all familiar with the proper protocol for downing a shot of tequila. Lick the salt, slam back the tequila and suck a juicy wedge of lime.   There is also a proper protocol for guzzling soda and swilling beer. Pop it, slurp it, and crush it.   Today is Crush A Can Day, […]

On the last Sunday in September, we observe Gold Star Mothers’ Day as a quiet and somber occasion. American families display their service flags with a blue star representing each member deployed in war. Those lost to combat are honored with a gold star on the flag. We remember that those lives lost in war […]

They say, “be careful what you wish for”.   By the way, who are they? Is that a stupid question? If so, it qualifies for entry in the day teachers now dread.   In response to educators wanting students to ask more questions, the 1980s saw the emergence of Ask a Stupid Question Day, observed […]

Whether city, country or suburbs, we all share a commonality. We are all neighbors.   Most lifestyles, limit our efforts to get acquainted, to an occasional wave.   National Good Neighbor Day, observed annually on September 28, reinstates the good neighbor policy. School has commenced, the best days of autumn are upon us. It’s the […]

Few people can resist the tug of innocent cuteness from one of the animal kingdom’s softest critters. They sport long ears, powder puff tails and can twitch their noses better than the character Samantha on the television series, “Bewitched”. Every Easter, children eagerly await its arrival which precedes the hunt for colorful eggs. And from […]

Remember summer days filled with outdoor play?   Trampling through ponds to catch frogs, cooking mud pies, tug-of-war battles across backyard puddles – mud was a very welcomed playmate.   There was something liberating in the ooze of wet earth squishing between your fingers and toes and spattering your face, arms and legs. You’re all […]