When I was a little girl growing up in Small Town, North Dakota, we had an event called Crazy Days. All the stores would set up tables out on the sidewalk (to sell their overstocked and out-of-season merchandise, basically) and there’d be vendors and other goings on at the park as well. Main Street was cordoned off and became a sea of pedestrians for that one day.
Crazy Days was crazy, really, but I did not mind.
On the contrary, going uptown for Crazy Days was one of the highlights of my summer. That’s what we called it in those days—going uptown. My best friend and I would ride our banana seat bikes (My friend’s was named “The Daisy”; mine was called “The Dove”) among and around the throngs of people until we found a place to chain them.
And then we would shop shop shop.
Our favorite purchase was always the grab bag. You’d pay a dollar and get a bag full of who-knew-what? You took your chances. Inevitably you’d get an off-color tube of lipstick or a pair of garish earrings or an incredibly ugly knickknack. Was it worth your hard-earned dollar? Of course not, but the element of surprise was irresistible. You never knew what you were in for.
I was reminded of Crazy Days this morning as we got ready for Palm Sunday Mass. Last year’s Easter dresses had been dug out and dusted off and paired to the appropriate girl. The boys were left to fend for themselves, which was a risk I took while I searched through the mountain in the mudroom for church shoes. (Two of the shoes were MIA, as always, and one of my sons got out the door in jeans. “I’m serving Mass! No one will see them!”)
And so I thought about the week to come—the Tenebrae service on Wednesday night, the Mass of the Last Supper on Thursday, the Good Friday liturgy and Easter. I thought about the parking, and the people, and the struggle to find a pew when you are late. I thought about having to have all five kids dressed and presentable…four days in a row. (Would it kill me if they looked geeky in public? Yes, it would.) And finally, I thought about my husband telling me that he would probably have to go out of town this week, which means either skipping a much-loved liturgy or being the brave widow who copes regardless.
It’s Holy Week. I must Just Do It.
Because we never know what we are in for. The next seven days will get crazy—I don’t doubt it—but we will attend these sacred events because we love them. They are every bit worth the effort.
And there’s always that grab bag at the end, you know.
The hidden mysteries. The graces.
Ad Jesum per Mariam,
So, I’m not the only mom whose children’s shoes go AWOL? *grin*
(as we were getting ready to walk out the door this morning for Mass, my oldest informed me that his ONLY pair of shoes were outside… in the rain. He got to wear beach shoes to Mass today. I tried not to be too embarassed, and told myself that the important thing was that he was THERE.)
Have a blessed Holy Week!
We had “crazy days” in my hometown of Princeton…called it uptown too, I think I’d spell it two words though, up town. My banana seat bike was a red, white and blue, 1776, centennial bike.
I love your ending, great, just great! Blessings on your crazy days, that is Holy Week!
A beautiful, quirky look at the busy week ahead, putting a new spin on it for me.
So thoughtful, so lovable, and so very Margaret. Thank you.
Thanks for the encouragement. This will be my first year of services and celebrations with a baby and our first real holiday staying away from home. I’m already getting a bit overwhelmed at the thought of it – the change in schedule, etc. So thanks for the reminder that it’s all totally worth it in the end!
You’ve inspired me to attend at least one of those services. My husband is on call starting on Holy Thursday, and works long and late hours. I may even be on my own for Easter. But, I shall go anyway. The graces! Crazy days indeed! But I’ll take them. 🙂
Crazy days for sure, though I’ve never considered skipping Mass because my beloved was away. 🙂 It’s trying, though. I’m still trying to figure out Easter. My oldest daughter will be singing, my second oldest daughter will be serving, and I will be lectoring, which leaves…the eight year old to take care of Penelope, Rosie and Jonny? I don’t know. 🙂 God’s will be done!
Beautiful, Margaret!
I also had a banana seat – wish I still had it. We also rush rush rush and one time my little son went to church with his older sisters shoes on. Loved the ending also.
I love Holy Week – but I totally understand the “Crazy Days” concept. Our Easter Vigil service is at 8:30 Saturday night – a little late for my boys to be out and about – but it will be worth it…
Peace,
~Jenny
Let us somberly be reminded that as mothers our lives are a prayer. All our preperation for Easter is a prayer, and if we dont’ get to ALL the services God certainly understands! I learned a long time ago that it wasn’t worth stressing over. It is nice to have the family go to ALL the services, but when little ones get cranky, and our tempers get short, is it really worth it just so we can ‘be there’? Let us prayerfully be reminded that we can celebrate Holy Week in our own humble abodes, without any feelings of guilt. That is where we are meant to be, and if we can get to services, fine, if not, it’s OK too. A blessed Holy Week to everyone!
Loved your banana seat memories Margaret!
Oh wow! I hadn’t thought about 4 days of good clothes yet – gulp! Off to review dd’s closet…
Okay, as a fellow former North Dakotan, I truly understand Crazy Dsys! I am also wondering which small town you’re from. Thanks for the great post.