A Wonderfully Wacky Week (Sept 11-16)

September 11th is a date that every American knows and remembers. This date is one like the day Kennedy was shot, where people remember where they were and what they were doing when they heard the devastating news.

This day is our modern day ‘date which will live in infamy’, as President Roosevelt said in his speech following the attacks on Pearl Harbor. September 11th, as December 7th, is a date that will always be with us. Pearl Harbor had 2,403 deaths and 1,178 wounded. These numbers pale in comparison to the nearly 3,000 killed and 6,000 wounded on September 11th .

What a date to start ‘A Wonderfully Wacky Week’ with, an article about daily celebrations, from the average to the zany. Many lessons were learned September 11th, lessons personal, political and national. One of the lessons that we should take from this is to celebrate life. Remember those that died and honor their memories. Yet, celebrate life, it’s the only one we’ve got!

The dates for the rest of the week seem trivial compared with September 11th. But in the spirit of finding something to celebrate each day, here they are.

September 12: This day in 1966 a new television show premièred, The Monkees. It started as a television show about a rock band … and they became a popular band. Download a few songs to help celebrate. Some of you still may have one of their records laying around in a pile of unlistened-to-anymore vinyl. Whip out some love beads. Pull out the leather fringed vest from the back of your closet. Sing along as you eat dinner …. ‘Hey, hey, we’re the Monkeess’ …. ‘I’m a believer’ …. ‘Take the last train to Clarksville’ … Am I dating myself here?

September 13: Happy Birthday Roald Dahl! Celebrate this author’s birthday with birthday candles in a peach and a chocolate bar. Read (or re-read) one of his books. James and the Giant Peach and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory are my two favorites. The man may be gone, but his legacy continues. (see his website for details, www.roalddahl.com)

September 14: The Golden Girls premièred in 1985. Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan and Estelle Getty captivated the nation until the final episode in 1992. Betty White, the only survivor of the four ladies, is still going strong. Celebrate tonight with a bowl of popcorn and a Golden Girls DVD.

September 15: In 1971, motivated by their vision of a green and peaceful world, a small team of activists set sail from Vancouver, Canada in an old fishing boat. These activists, the founders of Greenpeace, believed a few individuals could make a difference. Celebrate the 40th anniversary of Greenpeace. Participate in a green activity in your community that you believe in. Write a letter. Get involved. See www.greenpeac.org/USA/en to see more about Greenpeace and ways you can help.

September 16: The Wo-Zha-Wa Days Festival begins today in Wisconsin Dells, WI. Only the flea market and arts and crafts run today with a run on Saturday and a Parade on Sunday. Now, I don’t know about you, but I’ve never been to a Wo-Zha-Wa Parade and I’m intrigued! Curious about the name, I discovered that Wo-Zha-Wa is a Ho-Chunk (or Winnebago) Native American phase meaning ‘to have fun’. You won’t see me in Wisconsin for the festival, at least not this year, but that doesn’t mean that we all can’t have our own little ‘Wo-Zha-Wa’ Day! What things can you do in your family today to have fun and add a little festivity to your life?