During these dark days of winter, nothing quite beats the freedom we have to enjoy our indoor activities. In Ontario, Canada, we have a statutory holiday called Family Day, which is the third Monday in February. Yes, it is this Monday, in fact. My family’s typical use of the day goes something like this: I make a bucketful of sushi, we pig out, then we play board games until dusk. I have to admit, I’m looking forward to it.
I’ve always tried to make Freedom Friday to revolve around things that make me who I am in an effort for you, the audience, to understand that not all authors who write about zombies are half-crazed loons with a bone to pick on a society gone mad. Some of us, if you can believe it, walk on the right side of normal—depending on what normal is.
As I was saying, here in Ontario we have this awesome long weekend called Family Day. What do I have to do to convince you we don’t only eat, and play board games all day? Some of us—me—wake up at an incredibly late hour and lay in bed doing absolutely nothing other than enjoy the warm comfort of our bed. When I say wake up late, I mean eight or nine in the morning. Remember, I’m a parent whose kids have no concept of what sleeping in is all about.
That day is also when I can dedicate a large chunk of my time on productive activities. Like, chess. Have I ever mentioned I once won Second Place in the Eighth Grade Ontario Regional chess tournament? I say it in passing because I think it’s the most perfect game on the planet. I mean, here’s a game with the potential to provide countless hours of fun yet only a handful of folks know how to play. Most of my play nowadays is either on my iPod or on my Nexus 7. I have two different apps to satisfy my craving. Let’s not forget the other apps on my laptop. Needless to say, I get my fill of chess whenever I can.
Not any different from any other weekend other than for nostalgia, but Family Day also includes a movie. I say nostalgia because I’ll usually whip out a title I haven’t seen in a long time that would remind me of when I was growing up. A title like Raiders of the Lost Ark brings me right back to 1981 watching the movie in one of those big screen/big sound theaters. It may also entail my watching something like Terminator 2: Judgment Day where the film brings me right back to the cusp of my youth. Am I allowed to say, those were the days?
This last Family Day bit has to be my favorite. I’m talking about spending time with the family. The sushi, the board games mean nothing without someone to share. And share I do, with those I love the most—my family. Without a doubt, no matter how bad things may get, family makes things all better. Nothing quite compares to having them around to boost ego and morale. What would Family Day be without family?
Do you have a special day where you can splurge doing the things you like doing without worrying about time or responsibilities?
Looking to God 
My husband, son and I carve out family days randomly based on our collective exhaustion of society and need to shelter-in-place. This usually involves a movie. It’s part of my family days as a child — drive-ins, library movies on super 8 film, inappropriate films because those were the good old days and seeing Star Wars 13 times in a row in the theater when it opened. (My dad really loved it.) If I may … http://curlicuechronicles.wordpress.com/2010/03/30/the-making-of-movie-memories-or-juvenile-delinquency-take-your-pick/
Have fun with you and yours. And I look forward to reading your zombie book as I keep asking myself, “Does this dark side make my butt look big?”
Having never heard of Family Day, of course I went to the Wikipedia link to educate myself. Apparently I can celebrate it here in the States too – I just have to move to Arizona or Nevada. How does THAT make sense? Oh well, my husband and I just have two cats and rest of family is in another state – which means Family Day will probably end up being whenever we head back up to visit the relatives. 🙂
I used to love chess. I solved the chess problems in the LA Times for several months under the nom de guerre “C. A. Milverton.” On the last week, the name “J. Watson” appeared in the list of solvers, and C. A. Milverton then disappeared. I just don’t have the time anymore, and prefer blogging and writing. Family activities are problematic.
What a cool holiday! 🙂
And hey, I taught Sunday School for more than twenty years while researching serial killers and writing about pillaging Vikings. We are not what we write. Which is sometimes a good thing. 🙂
Family is the best. And family day sounds awesome. It should probably be a monthly holiday. One Monday a month dedicated to families hanging out together and nothing else. Sounds good to me.
Have a great family day, Jack!
Looking forward to Monday here too. That’s great about the chess. Have a great long weekend.
Sounds like fun! 🙂 In the winter, we play more board games but, usually without fail, we have a movie night every Saturday night. It’s a night I look forward to all week.
We’re the same that way. Saturday night is movie night at our house!
I have never heard of this statutory holiday, how wonderful. Have fun!
Have a great family day:)
I play a little chess, but not very often. As far as special days go, I would say everyday, but then I’d seem lazy. So, I guess if I were to pick one day, it would probably be Christmas. 😀
Thank you for your post 🙂 I love the game of chess, have played hundreds of times….won not so many. I love the thinking! Ok, I’m a slow thinker, but I try. And there’s so many applications to life this incredible game has 🙂 My hubby and I used to play when we were first married and then with friends through the years… I have a few chess boards too 🙂
A special day? Mother ‘s day & my birthday 🙂
Reblogged this on 2l2phant and commented:
Family Day, how awesome is this?! Can I vote it in?
The concept of a family day is awesome, Jack. 🙂
We try to make every day without outside obligations a kind of family day. They do not occur on a monthly basis, they are very dear, though.
Regarding chess:
I usually have to play on my laptop or on my Samsung Google Nexus – there is just a 7-year-old girl in my neighbourhood who plays a little.
I love my Nexus, too, Karen! I take it everywhere I go. It’s my favorite digital device–ever!
Same here, Jack!
My son takes a page from your book, Jack – I taught him to play chess (and he beats me now, every time) and he would like nothing more than to have an evening of movies, sushi and board games (in fact, that describes most of our down-time evenings, which, unfortunately haven’t happened in a while). Enjoy your Family Day weekend!
Thanks, Katie! Also, enjoy your time with your son. They grow up so quickly!
it’s a bit tricky picking a day of the year – with my husband being a firefighter, it all depends whether or not he is working that day. but usually, i would say our day happens to be boxing day. the mad-rush of pre-christmas and christmas day is fun. and still all about family. but boxing day is the day we stay in our pj’s, enjoy our christmas presents, and yes, play board games. we also do a lot of reading together in the living room (each with a new book left in our stocking). and sometimes, we’ll watch a new dvd.
That sounds like a fun idea. More people should do days like that.