A fun quirk about my wife is she likes to make me aware of whatever supposed holiday it is each day. It seems there is no longer a day on the calendar unclaimed by one cause or another. 

Some I completely understand. Days, weeks or even months meant to bring awareness to causes, historical events or health observances, I completely understand. It’s a good way to bring some attention to causes that are important to people. It helps attract the attention of others who may not be necessarily opposed but were just uninformed about the particular causes. 

Other days, like today for example, seem a little silly. Today, my wife happily informed me, is Shark Awareness Day. Personally, I don’t know of a single person who isn't aware of sharks. "Jaws" took care of that for everybody of my generation. There's a hockey team in San Jose I'm not too fond of named after sharks. Thanks to an infuriatingly catchy song, even babies are aware of sharks. So, mission accomplished Shark Awareness Day. You did it!

Seriously though, I realize Shark Awareness Day aims to bring attention to the negative perception of sharks which has led to the species becoming endangered due to human fear, and hunting of them for their meat and fins. 

Other days seem a little more superfluous. Sharks share today with National Nude Day. There's a holiday you probably don't want to see people celebrating at work. Coming up on Saturday is National Gummi Worm Day. It celebrates the great day in history when Trolli created gummi worms on July 15, 1981. 

If gummi isn't to your taste, there are other "holidays" you can choose to celebrate Saturday. July 15 is National Be A Dork Day. I've got that covered. Additionally, it is National Give Something Away Day. So if you would like to celebrate my dork-dom, I will happily accept any cash you'd like to give away.  According to the internet, and you know it's never wrong, July 15 is National Donna Day as well. So, I guess, way to go Donnas!

Coming up on Sunday is Artificial Intelligence Appreciation Day (I think I'll pass) and National Emily Day. So for all those Emilys out there who are sick of hearing how great Donnas are, you just have to wait one day.

I guess all these days of recognition can be fun, especially when you're looking for something to write a column about, but I'm glad calendars don't list all of them. There wouldn't be any space left for me to write doctor appointments and hockey games.

Everybody deserves to be celebrated and, by the looks of it, there's at least one day to do that for just about everybody. By the way, National Newspaper Columnists Day is April 18, 2024. In the meantime, happy Shark Awareness Day to all who celebrate!

Standard Managing Editor Seth Wright can be reached at (931) 473-2191