Mother's Day and other special days

Hi neighbors! May is a busy month. Here are some things to anticipate and find ways to celebrate.

May 16 is Armed Forces Day; Love a Tree Day, National Sea Monkey Day (remember those?), and Wear Purple for Peace Day (we can all do that!)

May 17 is Pack Rat Day (this doesn't apply to any of us does it?) Before you hit yard sales on this day, remember a Pack Rat leaves something behind when it brings something new home.

May 18 is International Museum Day (visit the Bushwhacker Museum!), No Dirty Dishes Day, and Visit Your Relatives Day (that's why you don't have dirty dishes at home, eat at a relatives' house.)

May 19 is Boy's Club Day. Even if you are not associated with this club, you could spend some time playing some baseball with the neighborhood gang.

May 20 is Be a Millionaire Day (what's holding us back?) and Pick Strawberries Day so even if your lottery number doesn't win, you will still have something to eat.

Send yourself a memo: May 21 is National Memo Day and here's a tip it's also National Waiters and Waitresses Day -- go a little heavy on the tips!

May 22 is Buy a Musical Instrument Day. You'll need it for May 23, which is International Jazz Day.

If you find a penny pick it up on May 23. It is Lucky Penny Day.

May 24 is National Escargot Day -- but let's not talk about that one.

May 25 is Memorial Day (we'll talk more about that later); it's also National Missing Children's Day, and Tap Dance Day. (It is difficult to think of those two on the same day.)

I don't remember who sang it, but get a copy of Ride Sally Ride because May 26 is Sally Ride Day.

May 27 is Sun Screen Day and we can only hope all the clouds know about and clear away by then.

May 28 is Amnesty International Day. May 29 is Learn About Composting Day. In case you've not done this all month, May 30 is Water a Flower Day.

May 31 is National Macaroon Day (I love those), Save Your Hearing Day (get a check-up), and World No Tobacco Day. And that finishes the rest of the month.

On Monday of this week the Creative Writers group met and Doris Quackenbush gave a short round table report on American Flag history and etiquette. This lead to Q&A about how she chose her subject, research she had done; the process of deciding what information to use and what to ignore, etc. She explained that she had shuffled through several topics before deciding on the American Flag. That decision came easily due to her childhood respect for the flag and her family's military involvement. She had two brothers and one nephew who served in the Navy. One brother served in the Air Force and served on the USS Missouri "Mighty MO" and served as cook to the captain for a year. She had one nephew, one brother-in-law and a son-in-law who served in the Army. She has one granddaughter in the Marines, along with three grandnephews and a nephew.

Her father was on the school board for The Green Springs School and when he discovered there was no flag for the schoolyard, he arranged to have one placed there. Patriotism runs strongly through her family. She discussed that it is important to have a passion about what you decide to research because research can get overwhelming.

The next Creative Writers group will meet June 1 at the Nevada Public Library.

I hope we all get out and have some fun this next week. Don't forget Mother's Day tomorrow! Whether you get Mom a Mother's Day card, flowers, candy, special gifts or take her out for dinner, remember it is time with her family that she will enjoy the most. If you can't be there with her, give her a call.

Until the next time, friends, remember there is always a reason to celebrate!