Sometimes, when I’m trying to decide what to write about in this newsletter, I go online and check out all of the strange and unusual holidays coming up. Usually, this strategy doesn’t bear any fruit and I end up writing about my cat, but this month was different.

February is blessed with an unusual number of wacky holidays, and some of them actually spoke to me! A few were so ridiculous I couldn’t help but laugh, and others triggered fond memories. I thought you might get a kick out of my discoveries, so here are the top 10!

Feb. 1 — Dark Chocolate Day

My wife Kaye and 11-year-old grandson Hank share a love of indulging in dark chocolate. Whenever we buy a snack featuring dark chocolate, Kaye will put it aside so she and Hank can enjoy it together. He has never admitted that he appreciates it, but I can tell he does!

Feb. 1 — Texas Day

This holiday celebrates Texas, its history, and its fiercely independent people. I’m very pleased to have lived here since 1981. The weather and the people are my favorite parts of Texas, and I’ve made excellent friends and business relationships here over the years — I think I’m a Texan for life.

Feb. 2 — Tater Tot Day

If you handed me frozen bags of french fries, mozzarella sticks, and tater tots, I’d go for the tater tots every time.

Feb. 2 — Groundhog Day

Kaye and I have a unique pair of friends who throw a Groundhog Day party every year. Folks go dressed up in all of the brown and beige clothing they own, with whiskers drawn on their faces and fake fur plastered to the backs of their hands! All of the food is beige or brown, and even the music is groundhog-themed.

Feb. 5 — Shower With a Friend Day

Apparently this is a tongue-in-cheek way of educating the public about the benefits of filtered water. Can you believe it?

Feb. 7 — Fettuccine Alfredo Day

This holiday brings back fond memories of
my maternal grandmother. She grew up in Comano, Switzerland, on the Italian border and had a penchant for making Italian dishes like fettuccine Alfredo. Noni’s pasta was made from pure love, and although it wasn’t the best I’ve ever had, it meant the most to me.

Feb. 8 — Boy Scouts Day

I was only a Cub Scout for about six weeks in fourth grade (it’s a long story), but I’ve known many Eagle Scouts and respect the hard work and dedication behind the title.

Feb. 13 — Cheddar Cheese Day

Growing up on a Wisconsin dairy farm, I ate cheddar cheese with every meal. It may not be healthy, but it’s certainly delicious! To get our cheese, we contracted with the dairy farm that

took our milk, and we got money and cheese in exchange. Our supply of cheddar never ran low.

Feb. 14 — Organ Donor Day

I’m an organ donor, and I’d encourage you to consent on your license as well. A single organ donor can save up to eight lives, and it’s a very noble choice to make.

Feb. 14 — Football Hangover Day

Yes, the day after the Super Bowl is officially Football Hangover Day. The fans on the winning side might not need it, but certainly, fans of the losing team will.

Of course, there is one other holiday I’ll celebrate this month that’s not on any internet list: my anniversary! Kaye and I were married on Feb. 10, 1973, and as I write this, we’re about to celebrate 49 years together. I’ll never forget the date because my father-in-law was kind enough to carve it (along with a heart) into a piece of wood that we keep on our kitchen windowsill. You can read more about our anniversary on Page 2.

I hope you had some fun reading this list of holidays. And if you’d like to celebrate National Fettuccine Alfredo Day next year, just let me know — I’d love to create a tasty new tradition.