What do you do on Saturdays?

When teaching, Saturdays were filled to the max with grocery shopping, laundry, cooking, and all the other chores I could cram in. I would panic if someone suggested an activity that caused me to vary this routine. In retirement, Saturdays are very flexible. We usually have pancakes for breakfast. Terry makes the most wonderful pancakes and they are the only ones I will eat.

This morning we had a bit of a change. We got up earlier than usual, had a quick non-pancake breakfast, and headed to Ronald McDonald House so that Terry could photograph this group who made pancakes for the residents there as part of United Way’s Day of Caring:

 

They are from The Principal Financial Group which is a member of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. That’s how we met them.

While we were at the house, I remembered that when I had been there the last time and made a 3-bean salad, the knives were all dull. Terry does a great job of sharpening our knives so I asked him to do that for all three kitchens. So, after he took the requisite photos, he shifted gears and did this:

 

We were done with all these tasks by 10 o’clock which left time to stop at Michael’s to look for materials for me to build a burning bush for my Sunday School lesson tomorrow. I’m teaching about Moses and Mt. Horeb where God speaks from the burning bush, telling Moses to get back to Egypt and get his people out of there. Of course, it wasn’t quite that easy. Next week we will have bugs, frogs, and a few other plagues.

Yes, my weekends are certainly different now that I am retired.

Saturday habits

They are there, almost every Saturday morning, sitting around the round tables at Whole Foods where I dash in to do my weekly grocery shopping.  They are retired education people:  teachers, principals, coordinators, and their spouses who may have also been in those fields.  It’s not always the same group every Saturday; they seem to rotate.  I see them as I’m headed back to my car with loaded bags which I brought and donated the bag refund money to the Community Food Bank, a nice benefit that Whole Foods offers.  Part of my Saturday routine.

Back to these retired people.  I wonder if they have some sort of weekday job or activity that causes them to come on Saturdays.  My Saturdays are so hectic.  Laundry, grocery shopping, errands, cooking, updating grades.  Oooh, this week my grades were all done before I left school so I have three days of freedom.  However, the season of recommendation letters is starting.  I have one to do today.  I really don’t have time to meet, greet, and eat with friends on Saturdays unless I make plans way in advance.  I cannot be spontaneous on Saturdays.

When these people worked in education, were they too busy on Saturdays?  Is that why they are there, at Whole Foods, huddled around tables, enjoying one another’s company?  They didn’t have that opportunity during all those years of chores, errands, school work?

Maybe next year, at this time, I can update you, dear Reader, on my Saturday habits.  I have a hunch I will still be very busy with all those Saturday chores with which I have filled my years.  It’s a habit.