Do you have a Monday morning phobia? The words … Monday Morning … these two words — do they seem terrifying and bring fear to your heart? Well, I blame it all on The Carpenters, a brother/sister pop-singing duo from the 1970’s era.

I say an emphatic, “Good Grief!” — The song that destroyed Monday’s reputation, “Rainy Days AND Mondays Always Get me Down” — You do remember that little million dollar tune, don’t you?

Just think about it … here’s Monday minding its own business and just part of a group of seven, I mean, Gosh … a team member for Pity’s Sake and WHAM … it gets a bad name. Now if that’s not irksome enough, a bunch of people got rich off of Monday’s dilemma. Poor Monday.

Recently I conducted a simple, but effective and rather highly scientific experiment. I shall share the important results with you, my dear readers, and if you will assist me, … yes, right now, we shall conduct a like-experiment today.

Trust me on this one.

It goes like this: (1) Look over at the person sitting or standing next to you … yes, yes, really … right now … look at them — it doesn’t matter if you are at the Vet with your little pooch, or sitting in the doctors waiting room doodling on a 2001 Reader’s Digest while you wait upon an overdue appointment (you’ve got plenty of time there) or even standing in line at the grocery — perhaps this morning you’re at the hot and steamy, (broken-down AC) Lauderdale County Courthouse. You’ll find plenty of people there looking for Friday afternoon, I’ll bet? … Well, hmmmmmm, maybe not the courthouse, because the heat can do strange things to people … forget the courthouse for this explosive experiment, but if you are anywhere else, say these words to the person nearest you … Monday morning.

Oh, did you see the pain, the gritting of teeth….the anxiety? My, oh, my …

Now, unless that same person has beat-a-trail to parts unknown … just to leave the vicinity and your crushing words — say to them quickly, very quickly … Friday Afternoon …

Isn’t that amazing? The calmness, the obvious pleasure when uttering these two little words … bet it lowers the blood pressure, reduces wrinkles, and can drop 10 pounds right on-the-spot.

I told you this was good!

Just for reference, please read the words to this troublesome song:

“Rainy Days and Mondays Always Get Me Down” — by Karen and Richard Carpenter

Words and lyrics by Paul Williams and Roger Nichols (1971)

Talkin’ to myself and feelin’ old

Sometimes I’d like to quit. Nothing ever seems to fit. Hangin’ around. Nothing to do but frown. Rainy Days and Mondays always get me down. What I’ve got they used to call the blues. Nothin’ is really wrong. Feelin’ like I don’t belong. Walkin’ aroundSome kind of lonely clown. Rainy Days and Mondays always get me down. Funny but it seems I always wind up here with you. Nice to know somebody loves me. Funny but it seems that it’s the only thing to do. Run and find the one who loves me. What I feel has come and gone before. No need to talk it out. We know what it’s all about. Hangin’ around. Nothing to do but frown. Rainy Days and Mondays always get me down. See what I mean? I would concur to a little change; a tiny bit of rewording for this down-in-the-dumps song — something like this: “Sunny Days and Friday Afternoons Always get me Up” … but then, that’s just me? Question: If it makes one feel better, look better, smell better, think better … in short, anything better — why not change the term Monday morning to Friday afternoon? Seems logical to me … to never, ever, ever, ever have another Monday morning. We’ll just have two Friday afternoons every week! Now, don’t fu-fu this strategy until you’ve tried it … Oh, and my original group to join me for the very first, Change-Monday-Morning-to-Friday-Afternoon experiment was about 250 educators, sprinkled generously with PhD’s, even to the upper echelon of the MDE.

This meeting took place in Jackson where I had been asked to bring their convocation for the new school year, and I must say — they are very excited about two Friday afternoons each week, and can’t wait to try it out! Not to brag, but I was a big hit! At least I think I was …You see, they don’t like Monday mornings either, and were very happy for a highly-scientific-solution.

Well, here is it almost Friday afternoon (wink, wink) and I must make breakfast and be on my way into a new week … I hope you have a wonderful week as well!