“Recess and lunch are the best.”
The streets were still wet when I woke up. The day is cloudy and damp. There’s a strong breeze. It’s a day to stay cozy inside with a good book in hand.
My bad luck continued yesterday. I put a small wash on, and when I opened the cellar door to check it, I could smell something burning. I ran downstairs. My washing machine was smoky and had stopped before spin. I unplugged it. The clothes inside were still soaked. I wrung out the towel and sheets then put them in the dryer. I was able to finish the laundry that way, small consolation. Now I need to have a repairman to check the washer, but I guess I shouldn’t complain. The machine is old. I did wish I had my mother’s old wringer machine.
When I was a kid, I never minded days like today. I was in school so I wasn’t missing anything. We could even go out for recess despite the dampness. I think the nuns had lunch while we were outside. We never saw them eat. I figure they were happy we had time to release some of our energy. We ran around, and when I was young, we jump roped. For the afternoon classes we were subdued, even a bit sleepy.
When I was in the seventh grade, I played CYO basketball. On our playground were two baskets both used by the boys. I went to the principal and asked if the girls could use one of them. No was her answer. Later, back in my classroom, the teacher came up to me and started whispering. She wanted to know if I had become a woman yet. I had no idea why she was asking. I said no. Her comment was that women didn’t play basketball and soon enough I’d know why. I never did learn why. That was my first time trying to buck the system. It wouldn’t be my last.
Explore posts in the same categories: Musings
October 1, 2019 at 1:50 pm
We are in to October and it is almost the official start of the Christmas season. Tomorrow is Mrs MDH’s birthday everything is ready but as soon as that is done, I change gears to prepare for her Christmas presents. The 12 doors of her Advent Calendar are under control and now I have to concentrate on stuff from the Jolly Fat Guy.
I am still reflecting on Tales of Lenny. It would seem that he was a pretty crappy novelist until Marianne took him in to her bed and suggested song writing. Twas another bed fellow (or is that bed fellowette) in Ms Collins who told him that he could sing (wrong). They did mention that his shows were dominated by a female audience, all, no doubt, feeling sensitive.
Yours in Lenny
October 1, 2019 at 10:15 pm
My Dear Hedley,
One guest room bed is filled with decorative Christmas bags which are filled with gifts. Each bag had a tag so I know to whom the bags belong. There are gifts on the other bed which I need to mark on my list then put into bags. I think I only need gifts for one friend and my sisters. I may start to bring them downstairs so I can wrap. I hate the early December rush to get them wrapped and many bags out to Colorado, You sound as if you have the gifts for Mrs. MDH well in hand.
I am not one for sentiment so I didn’t like Lennie for that reason. I just liked him. My favorite song is Suzanne with Sisters of Mercy a close second. I think Judy was right!
October 1, 2019 at 8:45 pm
No basketball for women? Oops, I did play and even had to do it in school. I survived it 🙂 We weren’t allowed to play soccer here, probably the same silly justification. Tonight I saw the Dr. Who episode about Rosa Parks 1955.
October 1, 2019 at 10:19 pm
Birgit,
Nope, that would have been a men’s game. That it was a sanction sport for women made no difference. Nope, no women’s soccer teams either, but back then, even men’s teams were rare.
I had forgotten that episode! I loved it!!
October 2, 2019 at 7:44 am
The image of the nuns at lunch is fascinating. What did they have? Did they get together and talk about what teachers talk about, presumably in a more nun-like way?
The basketball episode is positively Victorian.
October 2, 2019 at 12:07 pm
Rowen,
I have no idea what they did at lunch. They just disappeared. I don’t think they went back to the convent, but they could have as it was just across the street.
My nuns in high school had a dining room off the cafeteria. The door was always closed. I figure they had the same hot lunch we did in the caf, but that is only a guess.
The incident was in 1959. The world was still Victoria but was changing, and I wanted to be part of that.