that "sunday" feeling

The other day Amy said to me "I don't know why, but today feels like a Sunday and I don't like Sundays".  It got me thinking a bit and took me back to being a teenager and also not liking Sundays much.  My mom used to do the Sunday "strip your bed" story (no luxury of sleeping late in our little home for Dalene and I).  Bottom sheet in the wash, top sheet down to bottom sheet, newly washed and starched sheet on as a top sheet (showing my age because this must have been before fitted sheets).  We did get duvets (eventually) but we were a "sheets, blanket and bedspread" family for the longest time.

Sundays marked the end of the weekend, homework had to be done and your bags packed for school the next morning.  I also hated the radio programmes on a Sunday (which I now inflict on my children when when they visit on a Sunday).  Golden Oldies, the washing machine spinning your sheets and the smell of a roast in the oven - What could be better?


Not much happened in the '70's on a Sunday.  No shops (except the corner cafe) were open and our Sundays were always the same.  Strip the beds, sort out your bedrooms, lunch at Granny (alternated between the two grandmothers) and then usually a drive to Sea Point in the afternoon with Grandpa to watch the waves and have a Venetzia ice cream.  I always had the same - Lemon Sorbet.  A bittersweet end to a Sunday.


It must be an age thing because now I really enjoy Sundays.  I love time in the garden, fiddling in the kitchen and it is the one day when I am happiest when I don't have to go anywhere.


Today however, I have a "Sunday feeling" for the first time in a long time.  The weather has suddenly changed and it has been a pretty grey and wet day.  The reason for this SF (Sunday feeling) is that I had to say goodbye to Matthew early this morning.  It has been so lovely having him home, we had a big family dinner last night and it has been great to see that the three boys had a whole week of boy bonding while I was away.  I joked a bit about the time nearly 2 years ago when he packed his bag to head to Kimberley for the first time for a "two week trial" with Griquas.  "I will be back in 2 weeks" he said.  "Phah"


It is never the best to say goodbye but this morning I felt sadder about saying goodbye than usual.  The Golden Oldies on the radio has been switched off because between the Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton duets and the rain pelting down outside things needed to be livened up a bit.  I have a whole lot of new music downloaded on my computer and I have been listening to some Regina Spektor and Beirut.  Lovely stuff but also pretty maudlin.  


So I am hitting the "Publish" button, switching off the computer and am off to cheer myself up with some chocolate, last week's Grey's which I have PVR'd and perhaps a little snooze.  I have to be up and smart until late tonight to see Phil Mickelson don the Green Jacket for the fourth time.  I have always been a fan - he reminds me of Hugh Grant - much to the dismay of my husband and sons who cannot believe that I like the chap.

Every cloud has a silver lining 

As Annie said so beautifully:-

"The sun will come out tomorrow"

And another thing, I also had to dig out the winter duvet to put on the bed this morning.  Raining so I did not "strip the bed".  (Not so clean sheets and a clean duvet.  Sorry Mom, you tried your best)