“The trouble with the rat race is that even if you win, you’re still a rat.”
The morning was damp and cold, a left over from yesterday’s build the ark weather. The rain was so heavy it pounded the roof, windows and the deck. Gracie went out in the morning then stayed inside most of the day but had no choice but to go out again at 4:30, but she was back inside in a flash as it was still raining. The rain finally stopped in the early evening and Gracie stayed out a while to make up for lost time. Rain is predicted for today as well, but the sun did poke out once or twice a bit earlier so maybe the day will improve. I always have hope.
We’re going for a ride today on the back roads. I need to get out for a while, and Gracie is always a willing passenger. Maybe I’ll ride all the way to the French bakery, but that will depend on the traffic. There are fewer tourists on the roads as some schools are starting either this week or next. I can’t believe the summer is passing so quickly.
When I was a little kid, time had no meaning. Significant events like my birthday, Christmas and Easter, because of the bunny, were countdown events but not much else was important enough to be noted. I liked school so I didn’t count the days until summer vacation.
All school year every week day was like all the other week days. We got up, had breakfast, got washed and dressed then walked to school, learned a bit, ate lunch, had recess, learned a bit more then walked home. We got out of our school clothes into our play clothes, took advantage of whatever time we had to play, went back in, did homework, ate dinner, watched a little TV, went to bed, slept all night then woke up the next morning to do it all over again. It was sort of a kids’ rat race.
When I worked, every week day was the same. Get up, stumble to the coffee maker, have a couple of cups while reading the papers, get dressed, go to work, teach a few classes, eat lunch, teach a few more classes then go home and get out of my school clothes. If I had an errand, I did it in the afternoon on the way home from school. I’d then get home, correct papers, eat dinner, shower, watch a little TV and go to bed only to get up the next morning to do it all over again. I was part of the adult rat race.
I keep a calendar to remind me of invitations or appointments. Without it, most would slip my mind because I don’t dwell on time any more. I go to bed when I please. Sometimes Gracie wakes me up but most times I just wake up, stumble down for my coffee and spend a long time reading both papers. Nothing is hurried. I am now and forever a former member of the rat race.
Explore posts in the same categories: MusingsTags: rat race, time, weather, weeke days
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keepthecoffeecoming.blog 
August 16, 2011 at 12:02 pm
As we were looking at the start-up dates for schools in the local communities near us, we were somewhat dismayed by early starts. We both grew up when schools began on the Wednesday following Labor Day; now, they gear up in August. Glad we don’t have any school age kids. How do teachers feel about it?
August 16, 2011 at 5:00 pm
Bob,
A couple of times the schools here on the cape tried to change the start date to before Labor Day. This was when LD was the latest it could be which meant late in June with snow days ( one year it was June 29th). The teachers turned it down every time.
August 16, 2011 at 1:08 pm
Rather nice weather over here today. Mostly sunny but a bit on the chilly side because of the strong wind we´ve had.
I guess life is that way for most of us all over the world from school and work days during our lives. But I always longed for the first of december because our teachers always started the day by reading a chapter or two from a book every morning till christmas vacation.
That was when we had the lights off and small candles on our desks and always something to eat like ginger breads and perhaps julmust to drink 🙂 It was the only part of winter I really loved 🙂 🙂
Have a great day!
Christer.
August 16, 2011 at 5:02 pm
Christer,
The day stayed damp and overcast though s couple of more times the sun did try to no avail.
I wish we had that tradition here for Christmas. It sounds so lovely.
I always loved that first snow storm every winter. I’d sit at the window and watch the flakes fall. It always looked so beautiful to me.
August 16, 2011 at 2:48 pm
Wiggling my whiskers….
August 16, 2011 at 5:03 pm
Lori,
Wiggling back!
August 16, 2011 at 6:25 pm
Hi Kat,
From another rat who jumped off the wheel.
Cool and damp up here and even cooler up in New Hampshire where I had to be today. But the sun did peek out.
I’m not happy though because I came home to cable with picture but no sound. Disastrous for me as I don’t watch the TV, I listen to it. The mute feature is not on and all cables are correctly attached. Both the cable employees on my street took off in a hurry. Might not be me. Hope they fix it quickly.
Have a good evening.
August 16, 2011 at 11:01 pm
Hi Caryn,
I have all the windows closed down here as it is pretty chilly. The sun was missing all day but at least it didn’t rain.
That’s weird about no sound, usually both go out at the same time, but it did happen to me once, but it was the TV, on its last legs, which lost sound, not the cable, The cable guy routed the TV through the box so I got vocal.
August 16, 2011 at 6:26 pm
That is a coincidence between blogs . . . but, but, I thought my little guy was a mousie. Glad to read this “rat race” you describe so eloquently has a happy ending. I’m still in it. And don’t forget the morning chores . . . every Monday and Thursday yours truly has to empty the litter boxes and make sure the trash is down on the street a good 1000 feet from the house before 6AM. Can’t do it the night before or the critters who live in the woods would get to it. The County doesn’t allow steel trashcans with combo locks. Sometimes I feel like before going to work, I’ve already put in a full day. This was a good one Kat. We have a lot in common.
August 16, 2011 at 11:05 pm
Z&Me,
I knew it was a wee mousie but the two are related so I figure we were writing about cousins of a sort.
The ray race has a wonderfully happy ending, and you’ll be there so enough. I have no trash pick-up but make a once a week trip to the dump. It is the highlight of Gracie’s week. I get to stop at the recycles then dump the rest of the trash. For this I pay the town about 120.00. The only pick-up is my private companies.
We seem to have much of our childhood in common and we share similar views of the world.
August 16, 2011 at 8:08 pm
In Texas schools start next week. I am glad that my kids will have something to do because it’s been a long hot summer. A few years ago each school district could set their own calendar. Our school district always ended the year on Memorial Day and started back the first week in August. The great part was that we got a week off in early October. This allowed us to go on vacation when the crowds were smaller, prices were lower and the temperature cooler.
Unfortunately, our state legislature and Governor Rick Perry passed a law to require school districts to start no earlier than the third week in August. I called it the Six Flags law. Summer camps and amusement parks lobbied to get the calendar that fit their business model and we lost the fall break. Educationally it’s better to have more short breaks during the year than one long summer break. Now we are forced into a 1950s agrarian school calendar. So much for educational excellence from the Governor and State who’s schools rank 45th nationally.
It was 104 degrees again, but all the schools have central air.
August 16, 2011 at 11:08 pm
Bob,
The schools here aren’t air conditioning so starting when it is a bit cooler makes sense but then it’s often hot at the end in June.
Our first time off was Thanksgiving then Christmas but we had a week off for winter vacation and another week off in the spring.
I am an advocate of year long schools, but I am in the minority.
August 16, 2011 at 10:11 pm
Just remembered that tomorrow is Coffee’s day off, so I’d better post this today. Here’s some glorious harmonies for the big day:
Best Wishes!