DAY 9

"Each day had it's own proper work. Ma used to say:
Wash on Monday
Iron on Tuesday
Mend on Wednesday
Churn on Thursday
Clean on Friday
Bake on Saturday
Rest on Sunday"
~ Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Sunday - a day of rest. When did we forget that? When I was a child, growing up in this same small town, everything was closed on Sunday. Everything except one drug store and one gas station. And of course the churches. During the week most stores closed at 5:00. they stayed open until 9:00 on Friday because that was when everyone got paid. Sunday was a day to go to church, have big family dinners, and generally relax. I'm not sure how relaxing it was for my mother and grandmothers. they still had to cook those big dinners and clean up after.

My great grandparents lived in Stockbridge. We drove over there most Sundays, my brother and I bouncing around in the back seat singing Over the river and through the woods, to grandmother's house we go. Over and over and over until my mother told us to stop or she was going to smack somebody. When we finally got there we ran wild in the woods with our cousins, played in the barn and chased the chickens until we were called in for dinner. Not very restful I guess, but a welcome change from schoolwork.

So, how did we go from that to this crazy, busy life that we live today? Perhaps the universe is trying to remind us - be a human being, not a human doing. Stay home with your family. Connect with each other in new ways. Be kind and generous with your neighbors. I am listening.

Today we did a lot of reading, worked on jigsaw puzzles and napped. I am quite addicted to jigsaw puzzles anyway. I do several over the winter to pass the time during the long, cold evenings. I am not much of a t.v. watcher so these are a great alternative, and I am convinced that they keep my aging brain active. I think I may need more puzzles before this is over.

I went out late in the day to pick up something that had been offered on Livingston Freecycle. In the post the woman assured potential takers that she would put it in the driveway and we would not have to see her. I was passing my son in laws house on the way back and I knew that one of my grandsons was with him. I called to see if he could come out to the driveway for a chat. He did and we had a long conversation about the state of the world, his new dog, and his baby sister or brother who is due literally tomorrow. When my daughter delivers we will not be allowed at the hospital. I wanted to get out of the car and give him a big hug, but we settled for blowing a kiss from ten feet and called it good.

I f*cking hate this.