June is a great time for celebrations. Let’s pick some more great reasons for a special day
It’s a good thing there’s only one June in the year. This month marks the longest day of the year, which would be good, but then the days start getting shorter, and the next thing you know we won’t be able to go for sunlit walks at 8 p.m. any more and by December at 4:30 we’ll be sitting in the house in the dark.
June is like that. A turning point. Graduations and weddings, and of course Fathers Day, on June 15 this year.
There’s plenty to celebrate. Start with June 1-6 which is June Week. This is for remembering past graduations and memorable family times. We’ve been lucky enough to attend June week graduations at the Naval Academy and the Coast Guard Academy. I will tell you the major thing you think about is whether the row holding sabers will develop heat prostration and fall forward, slicing your graduate in two. It hasn’t happened yet, but you do think about it.
In 1984, the Blue Angels performed their traditional flyover in A4 Skyhawks during the Naval Academy graduation ceremony in Annapolis. You can feel the rumble as they fly way low over the stadium. My Navy son followed tradition and came home after graduation to a lovely outdoor June wedding with his best beloved, and I finally received my bachelor’s degree the next day after working on it, off and on, for 30 years. Definitely days to remember.
It was a June almost 10 years later when Number 4 son graduated from Lewis and Clark College in Portland and in a transport of joy, threw his arms around the College President in a big bear hug. The gentleman was surprised.
Younger daughter graduated from the University of Oregon. As we spent a few days in Eugene, I took the youngsters to see the house where their Dad grew up. Like all families who lose a parent early, we always try to bring Dad into the picture. Here’s the alley where he learned to drive, forward to the next street and then backing all the way to the beginning to do it over again.
As we stood there, the present owner of the house came out. We explained why we were there and she very kindly invited us in and allowed us to walk around the house, leaving us alone with our memories.
“I want to show you something,” she said as we prepared to leave. She pulled out and carefully emptied two of the kitchen drawers. When she turned them over, I saw that the bottom of the drawers were covered with handwriting that I recognized as my husband’s mother’s writing. I realized that she had used these drawers as a journal for very special events that would always stay a part of the house.
It’s very important to think of reasons to celebrate just now. Summer begins on June 20 and the days begin to get shorter, and never forget that National Take Your Dog to Work Day is the Friday after Father’s Day.
But with the temperature pushing 80 and the long, lazy days of summer ahead of us, I think it’s time for us to think of some holidays of our own.
To create a National Day of the month, you can register it with National Day Calendar or National Day Archives. These platforms allow individuals or organizations to register a new national day, week, or month by submitting an application and paying a fee. Now, the fee turns out to be $995. I don’t know about you, but there’s no day I want to celebrate that much. So I suggest we have some summer fun and register our special days right here, and we’ll share them.
If your day of celebration is chosen, you’ll receive a copy of my book, “True Tales of Puget Sound,” and we’ll do our best to celebrate.
Here are a few ideas to get you started:
June 1: Dare Day, Flip a Coin Day, International Dinosaur Day, Global Day of Parents, National Olive Day, Hazelnut Cake Day, Oscar the Grouch Day, National Trails Day* (first Saturday)
June 2: National Rocky Road Ice Cream Day, National Bubba Day, American Indian Citizenship Day, National Cancer Survivors Day
June 19: Juneteenth, a great day for explaining the unexplainable to children and grandchildren. National Watch Day, National Martini Day, World Sauntering Day. I don’t think you’re supposed to saunter with a martini.
June 20: Let’s make this Speak to Everyone You Meet on Your Daily Walk day. Let’s get to know each other. I’ve taken to asking people for an inspirational phrase or a word of advice to June graduates.
Halfway through my 91st year, I’m very aware that all we have on space ship earth are our bonds with each other.
Dorothy Wilhelm is a professsional speaker, podcaster, and virtual event planner. Contact her for a complete iist of events and times at www.itsnevertoolate.com or Dorothy@itsneverrtoolate.com.