I have found that since retiring, it is easy to lose track of which day of the week it is. There are no alarm clocks to set, no time cards to be punched. The days just flow, one after another. Early on I decided to designate Sundays as a day of rest, leaving the normal chores for the weekdays.
I think I get this idea from Mother, who was rigidly religious. She would have been happy if our family attended Sunday School, morning and evening church services. She would have been even happier if we had spent the rest of the day reading our Bibles. While these were good pursuits all, things just didn't work out for Mother.
Dad was a good, Christian man. His beliefs aligned themselves with Mothers, but with a healthy dose of fun thrown in for good measure. We were spared the forced Bible study. Often he planned a family activity for Sunday afternoons. In the winter he would take us ice skating or sledding. If the weather was too cold and blustery for outdoor activities, we might spend an afternoon reading one of the many books he kept for us, or we might play board games like Monopoly. Playing cards were forbidden - Mother thought them to be of the devil - so we played Old Maid or Authors or Uno.
Summertime Sunday afternoons were for picnics, swimming at the lake or maybe a lazy afternoon of fishing. We had a badminton set and a croquet set and sometimes he would set up one or the other of those games and we would have tournaments on the front lawn. Sometimes we just piled into the family car and went for a drive. We admired the crops in the fields, went for walks along the river or stopped to explore an abandoned rural schoolhouse. Often these excursions ended with a treat of an ice cream cone.
Mother's beliefs did not allow us to go to the movies. I never did get her to explain why she felt this way. I don't know how Dad managed it, but he took me to see 'Bambi' and 'Snow White' when I was very young. Even though it was well over 65 years ago, I still remember watching Snow White running through the forest and finding the cottage of the Seven Dwarfs. And I still can't watch 'Bambi' without crying when his mother is killed.
I suppose Mother's beliefs may have come from her father, whom my Dad once described as "stern but fair in his dealings." I wish she had been able to enjoy life a bit more as did those on Dad's side of the family. I'm sure that the fact that she spent many years in pain from rheumatoid arthritis did not help any. I think Dad's sense of humor matched with Mother's rigid religious beliefs probably tempered both and made for a successful marriage. I once asked my Dad how he could take care of Mother, day in and day out, in those later days when she could do nearly nothing for herself. His answer was simple. "I love your Mother."
And that's what it really is all about, isn't it.
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I like the memories of Sundays. Me, Sunday afternoons ideally used to be ironing my shirts for the week while listening to "The Forum" on the BBC World Service, and then making spaghetti for dinner. It's always the simplest memories that are happiest.
ReplyDeleteStephen...I most heartily agree with your view on the simple memories being the happiest. In today's world where everyone is so very busy and everything seems to be moving way too fast, the memories of a more simple time are like an oasis in the middle of the desert.
DeleteI used to play croquet and badminton with our kids. Just about 10-11 years ago we used to go out and play badminton as a family. Out here we've tried it, and the wind makes it too difficult most days. We love that game. You've inspired me to write a "Sunday Memories" post now. I just may have to. I very much enjoyed reading this.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you enjoyed this post, Kristina. I seem to be strolling down Memory Lane quite often lately. Probably because of the turmoil of events today and the relative peacefulness of days gone by. As a kid, I loved those outdoor games. They were even more fun when my cousins would visit and we had more to play with than just my small family. I particularly liked the part where I could whack someone else's croquet ball out into the weeds. :)
DeleteThis is a wonderful story, Mom. Exactly how I rememver grandma and grandpa.
ReplyDeleteDavid
I am so glad you liked the story, Son. Sometimes I think I should write more about the long ago times so we don't forget those we loved. I wish now that my parents had been more forthcoming about their parents. They rarely talked about them and I have so few memories of my own.
DeleteI make a slight effort to keep the Lord's Sabbath (Saturday), instead of Emperor Constantine and Pope Sylvester's Sabbath (Sunday), I'd do better if my wife felt likewise, but it isn't like God is going to send us to hell for it. Your Sundays sound somewhat like mine growing up, except you may have had a little more fun.
ReplyDeleteMost folks don't know this, but Bambi was written as a political commentary, like Animal farm, and it's author's life was endangered by it's writing. Unfortunately, Disney got hold of the story and turned it into a child's story. Since then, all references to its origins have been dropped and you can't even buy a copy of the original book; everything is Disney only.
Gorges...I am not well versed enough in the differences between Saturday Sabbath and Sunday Sabbath. I guess I just go with the way I was brought up, but not quite so rigid in my beliefs as Mother was. I tend to lean toward Dad's more fun loving side.
DeleteI didn't know about the origins of Bambi. I only know the Disney version and the fond memories I have of watching it in a movie theater with my Dad. It would be interesting to find out about the origins of the story.
Thanks for sharing that Vicki, nice memories to have, especially of those fun times.
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome, Jenn. Seems like the older I get the more I enjoy skipping along Memory Lane. :)
DeleteToday, a parent would have to physically remove electronics from the hands of children! I like for my children to look out the windows and observe things. We could play cards and Rook was our family's game when relatives came over and the adults played. Daddy and his brothers may have played other card games, but not at our house and not in front of my mother and the children. It sounds like your father had a very balanced view of Sunday.
ReplyDeleteLinda...I'm glad my children grew up before electronic gadgets. I think they have an appreciation of nature and the world around them more than do those who live with their eyes locked onto a screen.
DeleteI had forgotten all about Rook. That was one of the games my family played as well. I always found it amusing that so many of the card games we were allowed to play as children could also be played with regular playing cards, which were forbidden. I never worked up the courage to point this out to Mother, however. :)
Dad did have a balanced view of Sunday. Mother was happy because we always attended church services and we did not work on Sunday, other than washing the dishes after meals. Dad was happy because we did things together as a family, whether it was sledding in winter or picnics in summer. I believe we children benefited from both.
Love this!
ReplyDeleteThanks, BW. I rather enjoy rummaging about in my past for things to share.
DeleteI would love to hear more stories about Grandma and Grandpa and when you were growing up.
ReplyDeleteSon...I will see if I can shake the cobwebs from some more memories for you. I am glad my children like to hear about the past.
DeleteTimes have changed. also a difference between white collar M-F, and blue collar working weekends. My dad had rotating days off. Worked 6 days get two off, worked 6 days got two off. The best part is when he would have 2 3 day weekend back to back. He would take 5 vacation days in the middle and have 11 days off for trips.
ReplyDeleteRob...I can remember when many retail stores were closed Sundays. I think the gas stations stayed open then. But Saturday was the day everyone did their shopping. Now everything is open all the time. I find that kind of sad.
DeleteMy oldest son works a rotating shift, so he works some Sundays. But then, like your Dad, he sometimes uses his accumulated days off in between his scheduled days off, which gives him at least a weeks vacation. It is hard to avoid Sunday work these days, but like Duane and your Dad, there are compensations.
Keep strolling down memory lane. I really like reading your stories. Your writing also triggers my own memories which is comforting as well. I,too, grew up when the stores were closed on Sundays. We were a church going family. Although, truthfully, I remember lying quietly in bed many a Sunday morning hoping my parents would sleep in. It rarely happened.
ReplyDeleteAfter church, we'd usually go out to breakfast. My Dad most always worked Saturdays as well as a M-F job. So family time on Sunday was very important.
Funny you should mention games you played. My Dad would play any time as long as it was dominoes. Ha! I have fond memories of playing on the coffee table in our living room. Just the two of us. No TV in that room.
Cheers, SJ
SJ...I have a few more 'memory lane' posts in mind. Sometimes I fear my mind will deteriorate as my body has and I won't remember, so it seems like a good idea to write them down now while I still can. :)
DeleteI had forgotten about dominos. That was another game we played. And I never did learn chess, but was a whiz at checkers!
Memory Lane. It is a good place to visit.
There is a happy medium in all things isn't there? My wife is much like your mother. I love her with all my heart, I love my Maker, my church and the people in it - but I love having fun too.
ReplyDelete