The eclectic days of January

Ah, another January. Can’t we just fast forward to February?
If T.S. Eliot is right, and April is the cruelest month, could it be that January is the most depressing month, or maybe just the most boring?
True, we started January’s first week with sunny skies and temperatures in the 60s, but there’s always the possibility that we could be ambushed by cold and nasty weather for a long time to come.
Most of January seems to be a lull in the now nearly-year-around FTFS (Full-Tilt Fiesta Season). Las Crucens usually rally to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day ( with a Jan. 20 breakfast and a Jan. 19 commemorative march) and Chinese New Year (Jan. 31 this year), with inclusive community events.
Always-inventive Las Cruces entertainment icons Mark Medoff and Las Cruces Symphony Orchestra conductor Lonnie Klein have marched boldly into the January entertainment vacuum to collaborate with local and national talents on some really big shows.
But early January, after New Year’s Day and the first Friday Downtown Ramble, is pretty quiet.
For inspiration, I turned to a favorite website, holidayinsights.com to consult their list of “January 2014 Bizarre and Unique Holidays.”
Alas, you may already have missed the opportunity to celebrate Run Up the Flagpole and See if Anyone Salutes Day, National Bird Day, Bean Day, Cuddle Up Day, Festival of Sleep Day and days devoted to Fruitcake Toss, Humiliation, Trivia, Old Rock (the minerals, not the music), Bubble Baths, Peculiar People, and Houseplant Appreciation. Play God Day (Jan. 9) is behind us now, as is yesterday’s Step in a Puddle and Splash Your Friends Day, which probably never had much potential as a hot ticket fiesta in high desert country anyway. We’re at the tail end of Letter Writing Week, traditionally the second week in January according to the site, but I figure we can extend it a few days in honor of our cherished snail mail traditions.
If you didn’t catch Male Watcher’s Day on Jan. 8, don’t despair. Today is Feast of Fabulous Wild Men Day and National Pharmacist Day. Could they be combined into an ab-fab (or fab-ab) fiesta?
There’s still a wealth of fun stuff to celebrate in January, including, appropriately, Make Your Dream Come True Day on Monday, though depressives and pessimists may want to spend tomorrow sulking through International Skeptics Day instead.
It’s shaping up as a varied week with Dress Up Your Pet Day on Tuesday. Dress up yourself on National Hat Day on Wednesday. Rounding out the week will be National Nothing Day Thursday, Ditch New Years Resolutions Day on Friday and a double threat Saturday: Thesaurus Day and Winnie the Pooh Day.
If you think I’m making this up, go to holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/january and click on any exotic choice that appeals to you to get the full downlow on your favorites.
Here, according to the site, are highlights from Jan. 19 (National Popcorn Day) through Jan. 31 (Backward Day.) In between, in order of their appearance are: Penguin Awareness Day, National Hugging Day, Squirrel Appreciation Day, National Blonde Brownie Day, National Pie Day, National Handwriting Day, Measure Your Feet Day, Beer Can Appreciation Day, Compliment Day, Opposite Day, Spouse’s Day, Chocolate Cake Day, Punch the Clock Day, Fun at Work Day, National Kazoo Day, National Puzzle Day, National Cornchip Day and National Inane Answering Message Day.
You still have three weeks to celebrate Hot Tea Month, and don’t forget that it’s National Bath Safety Month, National Blood Donor Month. National Braille Literacy Month, National Oatmeal Month, National Soup Month and National Hobby Month.
If you have an artistic hobby, or plan to celebrate Jan. 31 Inspire Your Heart with Art Day, you’ll be in just the right mood when FTFS resumes with February For the Love of Art Month in the Mesilla Valley, jam packed with shows, exhibits, creative happenings, studio tours and an exciting variety of visual, performing, literary and dramatic arts. Rest up and get ready.
S. Derrickson Moore may be reached at dmoore@lcsun-news.com, @DerricksonMoore on Twitter and Tout or 575-541-5450.