The Carpenters performed the song, “Rainy Days and Mondays, and harmonized on how they “always get me down.”  If you’ve been reading my posts, you already know my feelings about rainy days.  I’m right there with Karen Carpenter on the rain hatred, and used to be down on Mondays in general. However, it’s time for me to set the “record” straight.  Back in the vinyl days and even extending into the digital era, Mondays were the worst day of the week.  Monday was that day that you just never looked forward to, unless it was a holiday and part of the treasured three-day weekend. That has all changed in retirement!

Mondays have now become the best day of the week, with Tuesdays thru Sundays a close second.  I like the freedom and flexibility associated with Monday.  It’s like Opening Day in baseball, that used to be traditionally on Monday.  It’s the fresh start of the new week, trash & cleaning day, and offers lots of “my time.”  I enjoy just putting some words on a blank page, and Mondays are good for that.  Weekends are busy – lots of errands and commitments, but not much happening on Mondays.  I do my run, walk the dogs, kiss the working wife good-bye, and do some cleaning, mopping, and laundry while listening to some high-volume music on the radio,  I feel like Tom Cruise dancing to Bob Seger’s “Old Time Rock and Roll” in the movie, “Risky Business” – geriatric style.  Doing housework has never felt better in these early days of retirement.  When these duties are done, it’s time to sit down at the computer keypad and do my thing.

I do have a “Senior Fitness” class on the Monday calendar, and I was thinking about breaking up the routine a bit.  I simply got carried away writing this morning, lost track of time, and failed to leave the house.  No Harm.  No Foul.  This is the true flexibility that retirement offers. Maybe I’ll catch tomorrow’s “Senior Sneakers” class?  I do need to add my flexibility to my daily exercise regime.  Then again, Maybe Not!

“Us Time” was great over the weekend:  To-go food, plant shopping, movies, and dog walking/running, No charity functions, fancy dinners, or mall excursions, and the weather is improving.   I still was able to do some male bonding and watch some baseball.  However, the Cubs ended the weekend on a sour note.  I know that doesn’t sound very exciting, but I do enjoy spending time with my wife.  She has admitted that the house cleaning, cooking, and shopping that I do during the week gives her more free time on the weekends.  I just don’t do those duties as well as she does, so she’s also learned to be more tolerant as I continue to improve.  I will not try to compare “us time” and “my time,” but I feel that every relationship needs a little of each.  She does still like her “work time,” something that I’m glad to give up.