Resslin' Around, by Casey Ressler

What day, week or month is it?

Quick -- what week is it this week? And what month is it? I'm not looking for answers like "The fourth week in October," though. I'm looking for the real reason next week will be big.

In the very beginning of history, like before I was born in 1974, somebody decided to use a calendar to keep track of time, and that was a pretty cool idea in my book. That guy, or that woman, clearly doesn't get the credit they deserve for coming up with such a novel idea. About five minutes after that idea was born, I'm guessing, his neighbor decided to come up with a label for that week.

"Let's make it National Catch a Sabertooth Tiger Week next week, Joe Caveman Calendarmaker," Bob Caveman probably said. "And then the week after that, let's call it National Woolly Mammoth Awareness Week. Or would it just be easier to call the entire month National Prehistoric Month?"

We have a week or a month for any cause. Not to take away from these causes -- many of which are very, very important -- but why do we have to keep identifying them with a certain month or a certain week? Do we have to stop caring about them after the week ends?

Let's just take a look at the topic of books. There are no less than 28 official special days, weeks or months relating to books, including Steal This Book Day (Nov. 30), National Independent Bookstore Week (July 18-25), National Feminist Bookstore Week (May 9-15), Audiobook Month (June), Dirty Book Day (June 11) and Mass Market Paperback Book Day (June 19). Exactly 140 days are covered by these special weeks or months, meaning that every 2.6 days, there is a book-related special day on the calendar. Yippee, let's party.

If you don't think it is getting ridiculous, consider that there are more than 15,400 official special days, weeks or months being recognized, or about 43 a day. In December of 1994, realizing the glut of National Insert Topic Here Week requests, the U.S. House of Representatives announced Congress wouldn't be officially recognizing special days, weeks or months sponsored by associations, corporations or individuals.

But the National Special Events Registry stepped right in to fill the enormous void. For free, you can have your special day recognized, just by writing to them.

I keep waiting for the official Call In Sick And Go Fly Fishing In Belize Week, but it hasn't been recognized yet.

When it does, send my regard to my editor, and you'll know where to find me.

Casey Ressler (valleylife@frontiersman.com) is the Valley Life editor. He has been told Valley Life Editor Week won't be recognized, but Frank Ameduri is making a big push for Managing Editor Day being celebrated every day.