It’s raining.
It’s pouring.
But… No. The old man is not snoring, and neither is the old woman for that matter. She has been up since dawn and had even gone for her customary walk. He meanwhile decided that this Sunday was his rest day and so slept for longer, but without snoring. Small mercies.
(By the way, according to the new guidelines from the World Health Organisation (WHO), we, that is the L&M and yours truly, are not ‘old’ by any standards. We are just middle-aged. Take not of that everyone. Apparently old age starts only when you are eighty and we have years to go before THAT happens!)
Days of the week though mean nothing to me. The same days with different names is all. What difference does a weekend make to retired folk who spend all days of the week exactly the same way? So I walk on Sundays too, just like on all other days of the week. But habits die hard for some people. Hint, hint: The L&M. It is close to a decade since he retired, but he still thinks in terms of week days and weekends.
Just the other day we decided to go and look up some elderly cousins of his. His immediate suggestion was, ‘Let’s go on Sunday!’
“Why?’ I asked him.
It’s a good question even if I say so myself, and I will tell you why.
In the present scenario, how did Sunday matter? Or Monday? Or Wednesday? Or any day? The cousin and her husband are old, yes old by WHO standards. Week days and weekends hold no meaning for them. The same as us. So today should be as good as any day for a visit. Besides on Sundays I have my keyboard music class. Moreover Sundays are off days for the house help which means I have more on my hands.
The L&M mulled things over for a couple of minutes and agreed. Not that it is going to make a difference the next time we make similar plans. Like clockwork he’s sure to brightly say, “Shall we go on Sunday?” The only time he doesn’t say that is when we either go to the mall or to the movies. Who wants to be caught up in all that rush? Not us.
By the way, the pouring rain has now been replaced by a gentle drizzle. Looks like it’s going to be a lovely day. 🙂
©️ Shail Mohan 2024
This photo was taken two days back after a sudden downpour that left the countryside looking freshly washed.
Shail's Nest 
Despite having retired years ago, I still enjoy weekends – not that they are all that different, as you point out, from other days. There is still a residual thought that one is ‘allowed’ to relax more over weekends 🙂
I like your way of defining ‘old age’! I shall have to consider that one myself although I’m afraid I feel considerably older than middle-aged…
You mean WHO’s definition of old age? 😀 Come on now, Ken! You are still young!
The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak…although the spirit isn’t so willing nowadays either!