Took a walk yesterday around noon. Gorgeous day. I could feel the fourth coming. Sometimes I almost like the day before a holiday better than the holiday itself.
There were a few more people around. People in their yards, fixing the light on the rear door of the mini van, chasing their itty bitty dog to keep her from biting my toes off, mowing the lawn, sitting in cheap lawn chairs.
There is a feeling of quiet freedom on the day before. People who managed to duck work and actually live. Extending their time off in an intelligent way.
On the day of, things get noisier, hectic, intense. Everybody's cramming in what they can cram in, traveling, not traveling, barbecuing, drinking, contemplating or not thinking at all. The day blows by because of the urgency of having fun, however you define that.
On the day after and beyond, if you're lucky enough to have been able to duck work until Monday, you are tired and already thinking about Monday. And there are more people around. The Wednesday thing makes it perfect for an extended weekend.
We all live for time off. It's a shame but that's life. You are only alive when you are not working. If you work a 40 hour week and sleep eight hours a night (neither of which assumption is realistic these days), you are left with 52.4% of the week to live. Factor in shopping, cleaning etc and I'm sure you dip below 50%.
That is a horrible stat.
So these special holidays are magic and magnificent. You get to be a human being for a short time.
And the day before has a mystery, a release, a peacefulness, a catching of the breath quality that pieces your soul and your psyche back together.
Hell of a walk yesterday.
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