Blue Pants Monday

Ready to drag myself to work on Blue Pants Monday! That's a forced smile, you know... The first shot was pretty pathetic.

This morning was another Blue Pants Monday. I've had quite a few of them over the years. All those years, when I taught school, I reached in my closet for my most comfortable pants, the blue cotton ones with the stretchy waist and the big pockets.

When Oran built the new high school in 1989, I wanted them to paint my room that same shade of sky blue, but it wasn't on the architect's color palette, so I had to choose school room green. It was still better than the old brown paneled walls I had in the old school (circa 1925).

I think colors make a big difference in how we feel. There are times when I just can't face a Monday without light blue somewhere in the room with me.

I don't even remember how old these pants are, but they appear to be indestructible. They never get holes or stains or wrinkles. They're cool in the hot summer and comfortable for most of the year in Missouri.

I've always had to abandon them and face the winter without them, because they just can't cope with ice and snow or the cold, wet winters we have here in the Show Me State. Needless to say, I couldn't have worn them in Alaska, so that means I would have to have bought them in the post-Alaska era. That places their origins at no earlier than 1978. I'm pretty sure I had them when I went back into teaching after my daughter's birth in 1982.

My guess is that my Blue Monday pants are 20 years old.

As I sit here at my desk in the North Stoddard Countian office in Advance (with its green walls), I'm comforted by the fact that my Monday pants are still here with me, old familiar friends who have been through so much.

Mondays are important. These days, it's the day I send the news down to the Dexter composing room.

Back in my teaching years, Monday was the day for easing into the week. Mondays had to be a mellow day, non-threatening and comfortable. It was no time for excitement or frustration.

Yesterday I was talking about Mondays with a former student who is now a Facebook friend. She's also an English teacher, and I very much enjoy our long distance conversations. We talked about how important our first hour classes were--especially on Monday. First hour class set the tone for the day. She said that her first hour class gives her a round of applause, every morning, when she comes into the room! Wow! I love that! No wonder she still loves teaching!

I haven't asked her if she has Blue Monday pants, but judging from the stylish photos I see on Facebook, I doubt that she does.

As for me, I'm very glad I found this good luck article of clothing at the back of my closet one day not long ago.

I felt like saying, "Hey, old friend, I've missed you! Welcome back, Blue Monday Pants!"