Dakota Beacon

Somewhere between Halloween and Advent our household engages in an odd tradition reserved for this time of year – calendar collecting.

            “Hi, hon. Did you pick up the mail?” my wife asks.

            “Yup,” I respond nonchalantly.

            “Well, anything good?” she asks probing my casual demeanor as I sort through the stack of stuff.

            “Bills and junk -- and maybe a calendar.”

A calendar. Imagine that. Another one. That makes four and counting.

I finished perusing the mail and passed it to my helpmate. The junk we toss, the bills we keep, and the calendar -- well, the calendar goes into the desk for later consideration. Does a home need more than one calendar? Looking at our collection you would think so.

From mid-autumn through year’s end, we accumulate calendars. Organizations in which we are members typically send a gift calendar as a memento to greet the new year. Or possibly they are seeking one last handout before year’s end.

Other groups wish to give thanks for our continued financial support. At year’s end people choose to make charitable tax donations to nonprofit organizations rather than give their money to Uncle Sam. Because of our contributions we end up with calendars. Add these to the ones given away by the businesses where we shop and the stack continues to build.

I am familiar with the work of some organizations that help injured vets wounded in combat. Due to my own military history and my interest in military things, I am on the mailing list of groups that cater to active and retired military personnel as well as other veterans. I am a proud recipient of their mailings.

Those of us who follow the Gregorian calendar (all of us do) find nothing special about counting days. Calendars with space large enough for daily scheduling notes are preferable. But the theme of the calendar becomes special. For example, I received two different calendars for the same year from the same organization. It seems redundant but it happens. Paralyzed Veterans of America did this two-calendar mailing once with each calendar carrying a different theme. For pet enthusiasts they publish a 16-month calendar devoted to pictures of cats and dogs. Cute. Their second calendar carried classic paintings by Norman Rockwell. Very nice.

The Disabled American Veterans calendar inevitably offers patriotic themes such as scenes from American landmarks using a variety of photos. Other defense-related organizations offer calendars showing various aspects of service men and women on the job.

My favorite calendars show scenes which tug at the heart of anyone who has served overseas separated from family during the Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays. Pictures typically show a somber soldier in combat gear sitting on a sandbag outside his tent on Christmas Eve. Over the entrance drapes a single naked string of lights in a bit of makeshift decoration. He reads a card from home. Another calendar shows cheerful soldiers inside their tent laughing, swapping gifts, and sharing goodies sent from home.

Service men and women would rather be home for the holidays. But when stuck in a forsaken country on the far side of the earth they can always make do if they know that the people at home support them. I know. Been there, done that.

I look through the calendars again. Forget the pittance I have given to help the organizations that help the vets. Vets have given up much more to protect us. In return for my pittance, they say “thanks” with a calendar. The least I can do is say “thanks” for them on Thanksgiving Day.

In a quiet way the tradition of collecting calendars advances through the holiday season marking the beginning of the end of another year. This annual tradition concludes in January or February when I offer the stash of calendars to our grandkids.

One more thing – and a wry bit of humor. Every year I give my wife a traditional Christmas gift. Yes indeed! You guessed it. A calendar! Each year she expects her calendar featuring cats and kittens and she relishes that calendar all year long.

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And a reminder. Do not forget to vote November 3^rd – or sooner. Take a registered voter with you!

Dennis M. Patrick can be contacted at (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).