Greetings to one and all! How are you? I hope that you’re well. Every now and again there are some very unique holidays that pop up in the calendar. Today is one of the more unusual, or perhaps the more appropriate term would be extraordinary, holiday that I have come across: National Chopsticks Day.
Prior to my researching this holiday I was completely unaware that there was a National Day dedicated to utensils used for eating food. However, in looking online I was amazed to find that there is also National Fork Day on April 8th and National Spoon Day on October 7th. For those who prefer the combination of a fork and spoon - otherwise known as a spork - the National Spork Day shares its day with the Assumption of Our Blessed Mother on August 15th.
What a strange and wonderful world that we live in, huh? Well, lest you the dear Reader think that Fr. James has finally run out of ideas for his eNewsletter article and that today’s subject matter is totally random, please let me assure you that there is a proverbial method to my seeming madness. It all goes back to a funeral luncheon here at Immaculate Conception about a year ago. The grieving family was serving a deliciously-prepared meal from the Chinese/Thai restaurant Big Bowl. They also gave the opportunity, for those who wanted, to use chopsticks for their meal. Not being opposed to eating with those particular utensils I made use of them for my lunch.
Some parishioners took notice of this and commented that it was quite the sight to see my eating away with chopsticks. Unbeknownst to me, one of those parishioners - who shall remain anonymous for the sake of this article, although if I refer to him as “Mr. Uber” some might know who I am talking about - had a very nice set of bamboo chopsticks from Korea. “Mr. Uber” very kindly gifted me with those chopsticks and even gave me a new nickname: Choppy.
So now you know why I have such an appreciation and fascination with National Chopstick Day. Good Lord willing, I’ll have multiple moments to use those bamboo chopsticks with my meals today, even if it happens to be oatmeal… May the Lord bless you all abundantly on this special day to be an instrument of His Goodness and Mercy!
