Saturday in America

There is something special about Saturday in America. Whether you wake up early or sleep in. Whether you plan the day or not. Saturday is the one day of the week where you can all but make up your own schedule (even working is optional for most jobs).

If it were up to me no one would work on Saturday. Everyone would spend it as a day of leisure. We work forty-hour weeks. We sit in traffic four to five days a week. School is Monday through Friday. Even if we work from home at some time or another we must work.

So, Saturday should be a day to do whatever we want.

I like to wake up on Saturday without any plans. This is not always possible, but when it is I take full advantage.

I used to sleep in, but my body is so programmed to wake up at a certain time that it automatically awakens me. Knowing that I do not have to work I ease into the day. Breakfast, maybe watch cartoons, then a walk or run. Depending on the season, I may nap to a baseball game in spring or summer. I might watch college football or basketball in the fall and winter. I might read a book or do a crossword. This is all if I decide to stay home.

If I do go out it is usually for a brief time. In that time, I see what Saturday in America is.

I hop into my car and turn on my favorite radio station. Many of the songs take me back to childhood. While driving, I look out over the town. I see people riding bicycles. When the weather is nice people have yard sales. Flea markets take place at the local fairgrounds. Yards are manicured and lawns mowed.

In the spring and summer, the trees and flowers are in full bloom. Fall is so colorful. Even in the dead of winter there may be snow on the ground which makes everything seem so peaceful and quiet.

Some days I might stop at a local eatery. There I will order a sandwich or chicken and fries or onion rings. The food is always good and usually reasonably priced. I would take the local mom and pop eateries over every major chain.

I am a high school football official. Whenever I have a Saturday afternoon game, I take a moment to stop and take everything in. I look at the fall foliage. Smell the food from the concession stand. Look at the teams and fans fellowshipping. I take a mental snapshot of it and keep it in memory.

Then Saturday afternoon and evening roll around and the day winds down. I wind down with it. As day turns into night, I think to myself how there is nothing like Saturday in America.

When we are allowed to really enjoy it Saturday can lift our spirits after a tough week.

Saturday in America can always be a special day.