In May we celebrate Mother's Day. I think author Alice Walker may have said it best, And so our mothers and grandmothers have, more often than not anonymously, handed on the creative spark, the seed of the flower they themselves never hoped to see -- or like a sealed letter they could not plainly read. Happy Mother's Day.


Monthly Events

Clean Air Month. May 1–31. The American Lung Association releases its annual air quality report, “State of the Air,” on May 1. To focus on clean air issues, programs and events. For more information, see www.lungusa.org.

Creative Beginnings Month. May 1–31. How are you creative? Have you tapped your full potential? Use this month to discover something new about yourself. Enroll in a course, write a poem, plant a garden, coordinate a social event.

Family Wellness Month. May 1–31. To spend more time with family and appreciate those closest to you. Hold a family meeting and resolve differences and disputes. Set family goals and share dreams. Call up estranged family members and reunite. For more information, see www.WordsofWellness.com.

Fibromyalgia Education and Awareness Month. May 1–31. To promote education and awareness of the dangers of fibromyalgia, which is also known as fibromyalgia syndrome, fibrositis or chronic muscle pain syndrome. Fibromyalgia affects more than 10 million American women. For more information, see www.ppsinc.org.

Motorcycle Safety Month. May 1–31. To encourage safe motorcycle riding practices through state and local motorcycle safety courses and continue improving skills through advanced riding courses. For more information, see www.v-twinvalues.com.

National Barbecue Month. May 1–31. To encourage people to start enjoying barbecuing early in the season.

National Egg Month. May 1–31. To raise awareness of the versatility, convenience, economy and good nutrition of the incredible edible egg. For more information, see www.aeb.org.


Weekly Events

National Hug Holiday Week. May 7–13. Huggers of all ages are invited to make a difference one hug at a time. For more information, see www.hugs4health.org.

National Pet Week. May 7–13. To promote responsible pet ownership and health care. For more information, see www.petweek.org.


Daily Events

Mother’s Day. May 14. To honor all mothers on the anniversary of Anna Jarvis’ mother’s death. Jarvis, of Philadelphia, spearheaded a letter-writing campaign to create a Mother’s Day observance. Congress passed the legislation in 1914 designating the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day. (See link at your right).

Memorial Day. May 29. Also known as Decoration Day because of the tradition of decorating the graves of servicepeople. This is an occasion for honoring those who have died in battle.