Lack of Awareness

A friend on Facebook announced to the world this morning that this week is "Feeding Tube Awareness Week."

What. The. Actual. Fuck.

Seriously, though, this is a thing.

  See? I told you!

In fact, there's a plethora of feeding-tube awareness-raising claptrap out there for your benefit. I give you....

Shirts!      Stickers!     Totes!

       
Discrete bag storage hats!                                                     ....and flair!
(Ok, that one is pretty damned awesome)

I realize this is a thing, and that the children and adults (and their people) affected by nutrition issues might be a little sensitive. But do we need a whole entire week dedicated to awareness of their problem? Consider that I've lived in seven (7) of these United States and a foreign country in my 40 short years on this planet, and I have never once come across someone in public with a feeding tube.

However, I'm no Scrooge. If they want their week, fine. Let's face it, it's not the most eyebrow-raising thing to get a special mention on the Awareness Calendar. Other events include:

• National Certified Nurse Anesthetists Week, in January. Yes, it's that specific.
• World Salt Awareness Month, February. You've got too much, not enough, or just can't handle it.
• The end of March kicks off Root Canal Awareness Week.
• April 16th is National Healthcare Decisions Day. I swear, I am not making this up.
• May plays host to "Melanoma Monday!"
• In June, Lightning Safety Week follows on the heels of Men's Health Week, which I doubt is a coincidence.
• July would be pretty damn awesome with its Everybody Deserves A Massage Week but it's also Cord Blood Awareness Month, which is kind of gross.
• August has some stuff, but nothing that makes me go, "Wha...?"
• September 21st is World Alzheimer's Day, but I'll probably forget about it.
• October hosts "Drive Safely To Work Week;" the other 51 weeks can get bent.
• November is National Alzheimer's Awareness Month, because you forgot about World Alzheimer Day in September.
• December is rather boring, being hijacked by Christmas and all.

Today, however, is Hug Yourself Happy Day, because I said so.

**Source: http://www.awarenessdepot.com/awarenesscalendar.html