Ah! Monday...

Monday has a bad rap. Or is that “rep,” for “reputation?” What exactly is a bad rap, anyway? If anyone would like to fill me in on the etymology of that word usage, please feel free. My “DotM”(Dictionary of the Moment – an internal reference that rarely fails me) is silent on the matter (and there are damn few matters that it’s silent on).

Boy, digression happens easily on Monday! It hit me on the second sentence, and those were short sentences. Back to my theme…

Remember the old Fats Domino song, “Blue Monday?”

What do you mean, “Fats who?”

Yes, I know it’s an old song. Doesn’t anybody listen to oldies stations any more?

“Blue Monday, how I hate Blue Monday;
Got to work like a slave all day.
Here come Tuesday, oh hard Tuesday,
I'm so tired got no time to play.
Here come Wednesday, I'm beat to my socks
My gal calls, got to tell her that I'm out.
'Cause Thursday is a hard workin' day,
And Friday I get my pay.

Saturday mornin', oh Saturday mornin'
All my tiredness has gone away.
Got my money and my honey
And I'm out on the stand to play.

Sunday mornin' I'm feelin' bad,
But it's worth it for the time that I had,
But I've got to get my rest,
'Cause Monday is a mess.”

I still hear that song in my mind most Mondays. When I do, I marvel at the mentality that “Monday is a mess,” that the work week is full of drudgery, and that the best of life happens on the weekends.

What utter nonsense! If that’s your philosophy, you’re going to be stressed and unhappy for 5/7 of your adult, working life. Or maybe 4/7, if you count Friday as part of the weekend. And I guess a lot of people do, because it seems that not a lot of work gets done on many Fridays. At my plant, at least.

Man, if you’re that stressed out or unhappy at your job, find another one! Mondays can be fun.

Try going to work on a Monday smiling and whistling. Everybody will think you must have been propagating all weekend. (That was for you, Karyn. I knew you’d perk up at that!)

I take great pleasure in being murderously cheerful on Mondays. I’ve learned it can be infectious. At first the Monday doomsday gang will moan and complain and tell you to go away and let them suffer. But if you persist just a bit, they will do one of three things: a) ignore you; b) get caught up in your mood and start being cheerful themselves, or; c) commit suicide.

If “c” happens, at least their sour attitude won’t infect all those who reacted as in “b.” If “a,” try again next Monday. They can’t ignore you forever.

Monday’s rep, or bad rap, is getting better! Trust me.