The "I" word and other plans....

"It's Tuesday, but I'm not ironing today."  Now you may not understand that comment, but about 70 years ago that comment might have brought an audible gasp at the Tuesday afternoon church lady meeting. To salvage my reputation, I could at least say I did the wash yesterday (Monday).  "Wash" is what we now call laundry.  And for my mid-western readers, wash does not have an "r".   But, I really did the laundry yesterday.  The hamper was brimming a bit.  Oh, we still had clean clothes and clean underwear, but it's always good to keep ahead of the "wash".

While I was doing that, I had to smile that I was actually doing it on a Monday.  This reminded me of the plan that somehow got lost on women as they entered the work force in the 60's and 70's. The plan was how homemakers were to manage their homes.  I use the term "homemaker" instead of "housewife".  Never liked that one.  After all, women were not and are not married to their houses.  They were/are making a home.  But, the homemaking routine in days of old was this:  Monday is washday; Tuesday, ironing; Wednesday, mending; Thursday, marketing; Friday, baking; Saturday, cleaning; Sunday, church.  

Anyone out there still run their household like this?  Anyone?  Anyone?  Bueller?
Anyone on major Covid shutdown realize that it is Tuesday?  Unless of course, you don't get around to reading this until Wednesday, or Thursday, or.....   well just look somewhere on whatever device you are using to read this.  It will tell you what day it is.

Anyone iron today? After all, it's Tuesday. My southern friends who knew me when I was in the middle of my "homemaking" days and our child raising, full time job, hockey, softball, tennis and PTA schedules - is that they know I really did iron sometimes.  Yes, they got a chuckle out of it.  Yes they pointed out that it was a 4 letter word so we just referred to it as the "I" word.  Translation:  Jack had to wear nice shirts at one point in his career, I don't like wrinkles and I hate hanger bumps.  You know, the bumps the hanger puts on the shoulder of your sweaters and such.  (Hint for busy moms:  A curling iron can work those out in the morning while you are getting yourself together.)

My mom had dish towels embroidered with whimsical little bonnet ladies and each one with the day and "duty" for the day.  So I was aware of this notion about the management plan for years.  My mom worked full time and had 3 kids. "The plan" didn't work well for her.  

But, I'm thinking these days, maybe we all need a plan. I think I eluded to this a blog or two ago, when I mentioned that we all need to find something that helps us flow through the days. What I didn't mention - and removed from the original first post of this blog - is that I occasionally have situational anxiety.  Sometimes bouts of depression.  The latter can last a day or two, or just an hour or two.  As for the anxiety, there are little pink pills to help with that. (take as needed)  My levels of anxiety and depression were ramped up a few months ago, but have settled a bit.  I have friends and family who have been on this roller coaster of emotions, too.  But, the "mullygrubs", as I call them, rear their ugly little heads more on the days where there is no plan.  Tuesdays are usually good as it's lunch with Mom and Paul day; then grocery shopping for us and mom.  So on Tuesday, there's no time for the mullygrubs.  Also included today is this typing and editing session.  But, as the thoughts pop in my head, I write when the urge hits.  But, no ironing today.
Last week my mom had 2 routine appointments and I had one.  A good week.  No real mullygrubs then either. There was no time for that.  So I wondered... maybe we all need a plan.  Something to look forward to or something to do every day.  Those of you still working every day might be doing a little better with this.  But, with all that's "out there", I'm sure your depression and anxiety has been stirred up a bit, too.  So we need a plan.  Something to look forward to or something to do beyond the daily work and all the household chores.  Find that flow.  Make plans to visit with friends.  Social distance on your patio, in your garage, or even a Zoom cocktail hour.  So let's learn from the wise old women of yesteryear and make a plan.  The outdoor patio visit can be Friday night.  The Zoom meetings on Tuesday.  Masks on and grocery shopping on Thursday.  Catch up on Netflix, etc. or recorded TV shows on Wednesday.  Saturday, mini-trip or adventure day, such as, fishing,or boating, or a drive to a local State Park or another safe and open touristy place nearby. You'll probably need another trip back to the grocery somewhere in all this, too. Monday can still be wash day.  After all, clean undies is a must.  While some people would tell you that people "back in the old days" had just as much depression and such as we do these days, they just "didn't talk about it", I would respond: "maybe".  But they couldn't wallow in the mullygrubs.  There was no time for that.  They had plans and things to do.
They also never forgot Sunday church.  So don't forget Sunday... church online.  In your jammies, no less!!