In college (specifically Young Harris) there would be sporadic church, Southern Sunday Style lunch either at some Blairsville Baptist buffet establishment or at the dining hall with the Methodists, then what we termed "Sunday Adventure Day" would ensue. We would pick out a destination in my North Georgia trails and waterfalls guidebook and spend the day exploring creeks, hidden towns and ice chest graveyards. During our final semester at YHC, my Sunday evenings were spent to the wee hours with Sallie, my best friend and fellow procrastinator, developing our photography assignments that were due the next afternoon.
Athens Sundays were always a treat with all the endless options for brunch and mimosas on a patio. An entire afternoon spent with friends outside The Globe is surely not a wasted one.
What is special about a Sunday is not just the lounging, not just the piddling, but the company that is kept. My favorite Sundays have always been spent piddling, lounging and laughing with people i love. All this is to preface what a wonderful Sunday was had yesterday.
Late yesterday morning began with pecan banana pancakes (mine topped with yogurt, Jeff's with chocolate chips and syrup), turkey bacon, coffee and mimosas in the backyard. The dogs frolicked, the ducks swam and we relaxed at a perfectly set patio table. After brunch i cleaned the kitchen and Jeff began clean-up on the poor, neglected boat... which i will continue this afternoon.
Next we hopped in the Jeep and eased over to Rock Hawk to do a little leisurely hiking. We climbed the lustrous new observatory tower to view said hawk (who hasn't been as well preserved as his eagle cousin), explored an old cemetery where a soul hasn't been buried since the 1800s, met a 3-legged dog and her foster sister, and Jeff expressed, again, his disdain for random children. (i, however, admired these easy going kids clad only in their Spider Man briefs and cowboy boots. What a way of living!)
On our walk back to the car we received a surprise telephone call from our favorite uncle named Tony and our favorite aunt named Michelle who were on their way back home from beautiful Wilkes Co. Georgia and were hoping to stop by and visit their favorite niece and nephew.
"Is it okay that i invited them?" asked my respectful husband.
"Of course," i replied, thinking that is was a friend on the phone, NOT an aunt and uncle. "We just need to speed up a little so that i can straighten up a little.... Nick and Katie, probably won't mind a little mess."
"That wasn't Nick, that was Tony. They're 49 minutes away."
Horror ensued, we still had about 25 minutes left to walk and another 10 to get home. "Shit! We have to get to the car right now!"
Friends, this is one of those times that the perfect southern woman may "curse in moderation." As you have all been told, Masters week just recently left us. As you have not been told, i was not able to handle the 90 work hours, the loving of the husband and dogs, the fitness routine AND the household maintenance. Some things on the list were neglected. The cleaning being number 1. Now, i'm not saying we were living in filth. i'm just saying some clothes were piled on seating surfaces, some shelves were not dusted, some papers had not been thrown away, and some things in general were just not straightened!
Jeff insisted that we need not rush, Tony and Michelle loved us and would understand and not judge our mishaps.
i insisted that he pick up the pace, that i was striving to be the Perfect Southern Woman, and that i would die before i let anyone see dirty panties on my floor or magazines strewn across the living room.
So he did just that, all the while laughing at my foolishness. We cut the walk time down about 10 minutes, rushed home and straightened our humble abode. And yes, i'm guilty of throwing some things in places they do not belong, but i would like to know who isn't.
They arrived just as i was dusting my last shelf, and we enjoyed a leisurely afternoon in the backyard with apples and pepper jack cheese and a fabulous Tex-Mex supper in Greensboro. Plus, Michelle let me drive her shiny new red Volvo convertible to the restaurant!
i can't imagine how yesterday could have been any more perfect. There was brunch, there was adventure, there was cleaning, there was family and there was leisure. Bravo to Springtime Sundays in the South!
