Readers Who Write

We seem to be creatures of habit when it comes to finding a reason to celebrate a season, or maybe just a day, any day.

Have you ever heard of National Sibling Day? Or maybe you remember National Pet Day or National Teachers Day. Each day of the year has been, or can be, assigned a national recognition status.

How can you have your own specifically recognized day? Well, that would take an act of Congress; literally. Once the legislation is introduced and discussed, a vote is taken. Voila, a congressional resolution is either adopted or rejected, depending on how the vote goes. Of course, let’s not underestimate the power of a presidential proclamation. A simple few words spoken by the commander in chief, along with a signature, and it is done.

Besides cultural trends, isolated organization preferences and other grassroots movements, nationally recognized official topics of designations are as diverse as one’s imagination. Everyone has heard of National Earth Day, but did you know that there is a National Popcorn Day, a Donut Day and a National Coffee Day? Too bad the coffee and donut celebration didn’t land upon the same day.

Want to have a chuckle? Google your birthdate and the phrase “National Holiday” (or something like that). The results can be hilarious. My birthday is when the country celebrates National Aviation Day, World Photography Day, National Potato Day, World Humanitarian Day, and of course National Orangutan Day (go figure).

What is it about these distracting days of special recognition? What are we, lemmings? Do we need to follow our herd and do what they do or can we simply survive by using some of that brain tissue we have in storage up there in our noggins?

Maybe it’s a little of both.

Do you remember dating back in the good ol’ senior high days? Your special somebody would pick a daisy and start the process; “You love me, you love me not.” I actually had a date cancel our diner and movie plans because that stupid flower had one last remaining petal on it that somehow communicated, “I loved her — NOT!” She actually got angry (and loud).

This French game of luck and love dates back to the Victorian era and was said to be a fun way for mom and daughter(s) or kitchen staff to pass time while working in the kitchen, plucking petals in preparation for the next family meal. The official name of the game is “Effeuiller la marguerite,” which roughly translates to “strip the daisy.”

This romantic game of chance is not supposed to be taken seriously as an indicator of factual (or fictional) “truths.” Unlike those National Day allocations and the silly reasons for them, this game of truth would serve you well — if you follow up your declaration of love with a box of savory dark chocolates and maybe a bottle of your finest local wine, and of course, don’t forget the flowers.

Regardless of the day or the meaning behind it, you will be a hero, to that special someone, just for remembering a day for remembering.

So you say you want to write?

Go for it.

Send us 500 or so words of scintillating copy. Make it funny. Make it poignant. Make it count. Make it any way you want.

Just don’t cuss. Don’t be boring. And have a point.

If we like it, we’ll run it.

Email submissions to community@rv-times.com. Put “Readers Who Write” in the subject line, and tell us the city where you live.