Each month has weeks, days, and sometimes the entire month dedicated to some cause, historical cause, personage, or ethnic/cultural group. Some are well known, such as February being Black History Month, while others are a bit more underwhelming, like National Homeownership Month (it’s in June). Although, these days, I suppose for real estate agents, it’s been National Homeownership Decade.

In October alone, we celebrate National Character Counts Week, Child Health Day (October 3), German-American Day (October 6), and United Nations Day (October 24). There’s also Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, National Go On a Field Trip Month, National Seafood Month (What *is* our “national seafood”? Tuna?), and National Toilet Tank Repair Month (whoo-hoo! Let’s hear it for plumbers!). For those of us that need to burn off some energy, there’s National Kick Butt Day (October 10).

That’s in addition to the more well known days and observances, such as Columbus Day and Halloween, and moveable holidays such as Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur (Rosh Hashanah was yesterday, Yom Kippur is next week).

Some of these dates/weeks/months are silly or obscure, some were probably part of a conspiracy by Hallmark (Sweetest Day is an example; it’s on October 15. Feel free to send me a card- I love getting mail.). But some are actually good opportunities to raise awareness. For example, October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. This is a good time for us to raise consciousness among employers, past, present, and future, that hiring someone who’s deaf, blind, orthopedically handicapped, etc. is A-OK. I’ve always thought employment is one of the top priorities we need to tackle as a community- even among those of us who are educated, finding a permanent job can be extremely difficult.

Another important observance for October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It strikes primarily women, although men do get breast cancer from time to time. Many of us may know of someone, either in our own families, or among friends and neighbors, who have suffered from this disease. As we age, the chances we are affected by it to some degree increase. In the past, I’ve sent in lids from Yoplait, and torn off soda can tabs from Hansen’s, and sent them in.

Thanks to my wife, I was alerted to an opportunity for each of us to do something to combat breast cancer- for free (no yogurt or soda contributing to that waistline!). By going to the Breast Cancer Site, and clicking on the rectangular pink button in the middle, you can help contribute towards donating a mammogram for a woman who can’t afford one.

So while we observe Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I’ve got some interesting days to look forward to. On October 14, I can help my follicularlly challenged friends celebrate “Be Bald and Be Free Day,” and in opposition to Sweetest Day on the 15th, on the 25th I can turn around and observe Sourest Day. I can prepare for the inevitable future on October 30th by learning about Create A Great Funeral Day. Since I’m “between jobs,” as they say, I don’t have to worry about Cranky Co-Workers Day on October 27. But this week, I do get to celebrate National Work From Home Week (October 2-8). On that note, it’s time for me to go do something productive…