I have spent a great deal of time feeling sorry for Tuesdays. It seemed like such a nothing day. It’s like being the middle child of seven kids. Every other day of the week is lauded for some reason or another, but poor old Tuesday just gets lost in the shuffle. Some cultures even think it’s unlucky.
The Greeks consider it an doomed day, as do the Spaniards who are fond of saying, “En martes nit te cases ni embargues” which translates to “On Tuesday, neither get married nor begin a journey.”
No day seemed to be as overlooked or despised as poor Tuesday. Consider all the other days of the week. Wednesday is hump day — the middle of the week; the sign we’re half way through. It is the day everyone hits their stride and does their best work. It is often said — though I don’t know if there is any truth to it — that a vehicle assembled on a Wednesday will last the longest. The idea being that Monday everyone is sloppy and worn out from the weekend, Tuesday they are just warming up, Wednesday they’re performing at their peak, Thursday they start thinking about the weekend and by Friday they are distracted and tired.
Thursday is a close cousin to Tuesday but if you’re judged by the company you keep, Tuesday still seemed to come out the loser. Unlike Thursday who is lucky enough to rub shoulders with Friday, Tuesday is a tad too chummy with Monday for its own good.
Ah Friday! TGIF events are posted all over town and Casual Fridays let people kick off their heels or ties — though usually not their heels and ties — and wear comfortable clothes to work. Students look forward to the weekend. Everyone smiles a bit brighter on Fridays.
And who doesn’t love a Saturday? It has to be the favourite day of the week. It’s all about sleeping in, family and fun. And a little lawn mowing, house cleaning and errand running. Of course, you might have to work on Saturdays in which case it sucks to be you. Unless you love your job, then it’s great to be you.
Sunday is a bit of a downer because the next day is Monday, but there are still a lot of good things about it. People sleep in, go to church, spend time with their family and cherish every precious countdown moment until the weekend has all been spent.
Next thing you know it’s Monday. We might hate Mondays, but at least it gets noticed. Say what you will about it, Monday comes first whether we want it to or not. Monday is the goody two shoes that kicks off the work week and is famous as the subject of many a grumble and song.
Then along comes poor old Tuesday. Or what I always assumed was poor old Tuesday. I have started noticing a few things about Tuesday and it turns out I was wrong. Tuesday is not a Nothing Day. In fact, it’s becoming a something day. All the grocery stores in our town — and maybe yours too — celebrate 10 per cent Tuesdays on the first Tuesday of every month. Some even offer free cake and coffee. You can’t go wrong with free cake and coffee. Toonie Tuesdays rock the movie theatres, offering features for two bucks. Only two bucks! DVD’s are always released on Tuesdays, though I’m not sure why.
It was Tuesdays that Mitch Albom chose to spend with his old college professor Morrie in his bestselling book called none other than Tuesdays with Morrie. Mardi Gras is simply French for Fat Tuesday. Sounds a lot more polite and classy in French though, doesn’t it? I wish I could speak French, though that has nothing to do with Tuesday.
In the states Federal Elections are always held on Tuesdays. I’m not sure if that’s a positive or a negative thing. I recently read that Tuesdays are the best day of the week to book appointments or meetings — especially doctor appointments. Apparently there are fewer line ups or wait times on Tuesdays. Of course, if everyone reads this then that would soon change.
Now I’m almost irritated with all the fuss over Tuesday but at least I don’t feel sorry for it anymore. However, I am starting to feel a bit concerned about Thursday.
Shannon McKinnon is a humour columnist from the Peace River country. She can be reached at contact@shannonmckinnon.com