Mondays Always Get You Down?
What About Saturdays?
By Bobby Wallinger
When I was working full time, few things rankled me as much as hearing some retiree speculate about the fact he or she never knew when it was the “weekend”. They would then pause and with a smile as wide as the pot holes on I-5, would make the declarative sentence, “Now that I’m retired every day is the weekend for me”.
“Bah, humbug! Keep it to yourself”, I silently lamented.
I would give the retired person the evil eye wishing with all my
heart that everyday would be the weekend for ME and contemplated
what it would be like not to have to set my alarm for 5:45 AM each
weekday (It takes me a long time to get ready in the morning), be
jarred awake by its ring, roll out of bed and after showering,
dressing, doing hair and make-up, head off to work.
But finally the big day arrived and I too joined the ranks of the retirees. So, was everyday the weekend for me?
Well, no…not even close. I have never had even a pausing thought as to what constituted the weekend. I LOVED the weekend when I was working and assumed I would LOVE it as a retiree.
You see in my new life, I have picked up some really great habits. Things like grocery shopping during the week, generally about 10:00 A.M. when one can actually meander down the aisles without having a grocery cart run up my ankle by a working mother’s Saturday that includes getting the kids to soccer and ballet, and is racing through the market like it was opening day at “the Indy 500”.
I also love the fact that I can sleep in everyday of the week…that is UNLESS it is Saturday. Why? You may inquire?
Because everyone who works at a full-time job during the week, gets up at the crack of dawn on Saturday to begin their yard work!
Now I am aware that persons living in a neighborhood that is under the protection of an “Association” live under the misconception that the “R and R’s” which specify, “…no resident shall make noise before 8:00 A.M…” I believe it goes on to say something like “under penalty of death or dismemberment”, or no, that is the R and R regarding insurance.
Anyway, if one is to believe there will be no sleep disturbing sound before 8:00 AM on a Saturday, they are sadly mistaken. Unless, of course one is not disturbed by some guy who chooses to tune up the engine on his car, motorbike, lawn mower, or kid’s mini-bike. I have been awakened at 7:00 AM on a Saturday by the sweet sound of a weed-whacker, lawn edger, and electric trimmer more times than I can count, and God love them, I do realize this is mandatory if said parent is to be able to get their progeny to the Little League field, soccer field, swim meet, or dancing class by 8:00 AM.
My personal R and R “breaker” is the thoughtful car-pooler who
alerts fisherman in the neighborhood by hitting the horn with three
prolonged toots in order to rouse their buddy that it’s time to jump
in the mega-van, pulling a gigantic fishing boat in order to get to
the delta before the sun if fully in the sky.
So, do I sound like a cranky retiree? Perhaps…but one thing is for
sure, I ALWAYS know when it is Saturday.
Have a great weekend.