The Superior Express -

When I was about 11 years old, I came home from school to find my mother sitting at the dining room table with an outdated calendar and three picture frames in front of her. The pictures on the calendar were watercolors of birds, probably done by a famous artist. I asked Mom what she was doing and she said she was trying to decided which three pictures she liked best. She planned to frame them and hang them in the stairwell, possibly adding more if frames became available. This was the first time I had paid much attention to a calendar, let alone the pictures on them.

There are many different forms of keeping track of dates and appointments. Today many people have apps on their phones for appointment, memos, dates and reminders. Many still also use hand-written reminders. I am fond of date books that have little quotes or sayings on each page. They brighten my day or make me think.

Many calendars are given away. They have a heading with the business name, a phone number and whatever else that is pertinent to the business. I have one that came in the newspaper that I use as a bookmark. I have used these calendars when I need a phone number or name of a business I use infrequently. For instance, I may not remember the name of the pharmacy or have the number in my contacts, but a quick glance at the calendar solves the problem.

Similar to my mother, I find the pictures on many calendars worthy of framing. However, instead of framing just one picture I hang the whole calendar on the wall. I have at least four hanging up. The nice thing about these calendars is that each month I have a new picture; normally themed to the present season.

My first year in college I had a roommate who liked to write letters. Instead of using plain white envelopes she made her own. She had unglued an envelope and used it as a pattern to make them. I have adopted this practice and use the pictures on old calendars to make unique envelopes.