There is a television commercial that focuses on a camel wandering around a cubical farm asking the employees what day it is. It is a Wednesday and the camel enjoys telling everyone it is “Hump Day!” As is the case with many commercials, beyond calling attention to the middle of the week, I’ve no recollection of what is being marketed.
If Wednesday is “Hump Day” what does that say about Thursday? Personally I agree with the Douglas Adams character, Arthur Dent who claimed he “Never got the hang of Thursdays.”
For many years my schedule was centered around the demands of my ministry family. Being married to a minister our week looked a little different than others. Weekly activities started on Tuesday. (Monday’s were our day “off”) Wednesday was Bible Study night or quizzing at church. Friday and Saturday normally meant choir rehearsal, and other preparations for Sunday’s service. And of course Sunday was a full day of activities relating to the church. Thus leaving Thursday as the odd duck day. I rarely lost track of what day of the week it was because of what was happening that day. There was a sense of security in all the busyness.
That is not the case with many individuals who no longer have demands made for their time. It was not uncommon for my late father-in-law to use his phone to determine the day of the week—and no he never owned a Smart Phone or any beyond the rotary dial type. He would call his doctor’s office and ask if he had an appointment that day. After being assured he did not he would casually ask, “Oh, okay so what day is today?”
Never would I have imagined I would find myself in this category a full 30 years earlier than he. Yet, I will often confirm the day of the week by checking my cel phone. The majority of individuals living in my building have no schedule beyond the activities of the apartment building. My lack of busyness is only temporary, as I hope to recover from an injury and move on, not so for many here.
Many sit in the lobby waiting for the mail to arrive. I hear snatches of conversations about the day of the week. It seems Meals on Wheels delivers 3 days a week. The community van arrives once a week to take residence shopping at the local grocery. Once a month there is a potluck luncheon—always the 3rd Tuesday. Monthly trips to the local Food Pantry sees activity as residence busily swap out the foods they don’t want. Those items no one wants are placed on a table in the lobby and mysteriously disappear. (I suspect they are like the unwanted 5 pound fruit cake that gets passed family to family every Christmas.)
Another resident and I—both new to the building, have tried our hand at the business of busyness. We have introduced a few opportunities to aid in relieving the boredom of everyday existence. Amazingly we have discovered a sense of contentedness among many in being miserable. Rather oxymoronic but very true. At least misery loves company, and for those who rarely receive any it is enough.
The other favorite pastime is gossiping. The folks here have raised it to an art form. My mother reared me by the “Thumper Philosophy” based on the Disney character who said, “If you can’t say something nice…don’t say anything.” I suspect if that were enforced here there are those individuals who would have nothing to say at all. I had to chuckle when one resident in retelling a tale admitted to “already sharing more than she knew!”
Communication is necessary for the human spirit to thrive. Incidentally according to many health agencies Wednesday is the day most common to suicide. Regardless of the day of the week people need people. I challenge you my fellow travelers to make it a practice to go the extra mile and make an effort to communicate with someone new. It may be that extra bit of attention to get past “hump” day for one more week. Live loving the journey.
makingreatime 