hook·y
1 [hoo
k-ee]
k-ee]–noun
unjustifiable absence from school, work, etc.
{usually used in the phrase play hooky}
What would you do
if suddenly presented
with the opportunity
to step outside your
normal day and
make it totally
and completely
about
you?
And during this
day off from
routine
chores
deadlines
responsibilities
demands
you simply
focused on
what pleased
your spirit....
How would
that day unfold?
I posed this
question to my
little family as we
shared breakfast
after church
this week at
a tiny, family-owned
restaurant....
The kind of place
the locals frequent
and that serves
the best home
made....everything.
Tucked into the
back booth, knee
to knee and elbow to
elbow, we each took
turns musing on
this question.
My girl {Eggs Benedict,
no meat} would go to
the zoo or the Humane
Society or she would spend
hour upon hour drawing,
felting and painting. No
interruptions and no
Is your homework done??!
My husband's {Ham and Cheese
Omelette} first thought was
that he would tackle a list of all
the things that have weighed on
his mind, like updating our will.
Uh, do over, Mr. Privet....
Second choice? Go
skiing or biking or golfing,
depending on the season.
All day. No checking his
e-mail and voicemail.
Just enjoying.
My boy {Chocolate Chip
Pancakes} liked the idea
of staying in his pj's for
the entire day, playing
video games, watching
movies and being cozy
with our dog by the fireplace.
A free agent all the way!
And me? I {Cinnamon
French Toast}would
meet a friend for coffee
and talk and talk, then
come home and switch
gears with a pot of tea
and a good book, which
I would read to my
heart's content! No
multitasking; no tasking
at all. Just being.
As we enter this joyous
time of year, emotions
run high and our batteries
often need recharging.
Every holiday season,
I dream of a snow
day; time to side-step
normal boundaries for
a brief respite.
But in our part
of this country,
cities and counties are very
well prepared for
ice or snow and in the
ten winters we've lived
here I believe these magic
days have only
happened
twice.
What would your
hooky day hold?
Have you had
one,
recently?
I'll put the
coffee on....
Let's talk!
xx
Suzanne
images:
Tumblr: 1
Flickr: 3-4, 9
Country Living: 2, 5
Google images: 6-7, 10










46 comments:
Wow hooky day, I would go with an omlette and coffee. I would probably spend the day with my mom. Your son sounds like my boys - exactly.
-Rene
Ahh Suzanne, you have opened the door to the realm of If Only...
I love it. Love to visit and see where you are going to take my thoughts for a little respite in the morning. Thank you. Your blog is always a delight to visit, and in it's questioning...a momentary escape from where we must be...to where we wish to be.
I do think I would go back to the coast with my hubby. (NOT when there is a tropical storm hitting!!!, but a beautiful quiet week of sun and calm "off-season" days, very little if any crowd.
Escape. oh my and the word "hooky" makes it sound like it's breaking the rules. WHOSE rules, I ask?!
To act upon a whim! oh not so easy or approved of in the adult world... :-) sigh....
Those who seem to follow their spirit on those days and just take off, get the tsk tsk's.... "irresponsible thing for that gal to do....tsk tsk"
Hah! Let's all plan for a tsk-tsk response from people in our sphere.
Sounds wonderful! Hugs and love to you. If you play your hooky...DO tell about it.
Dear Suzanne,
First of all, I am sending blessings your way for a blessed Thanksgiving week.
Your description of breakfast with your family sounded like a great rehearsal for Thanksgiving.
I am a great believer in taking a day here and there to just be-
to explore, or to rest.
It is one of life's great pleasures.
Happy Thanksgiving,
Laura
White Spray Paint
Out of character for me BUT I did have one a week ago. While in Charleston SC I had over half a day just to myself. I bought a large cup of chai and found a swimg way out on the pier. And just sat and enjoyed the scenery. Then aimlessy wandered the old churches and cemeteries, and finally the market. Recharged!
Happy Thanksgiving! xo Cathy
I do love how my days run ...B.U.T
I'd go shopping and hit the stores I never get to linger in ... like Nordie's and Anthro ... and I'd be buying, too ... uh hum
I would go to the Excelsior lumber mill mall again with you. That was a special moment for me, Suzanne. AWESOME POST, as usual my friend! Anita
Good Morning!
You'd think I'd have more of these days since I quit my job last year but it seems like I have more little things to do than I ever did working full time. But I would love to go on a hike in the woods with a book and blanket ...to read and explore...listen and watch. Then I would love to go to the bookstore and sit there for hours reading all the magazines and newspapers, watch people and maybe have a few conversations with the other book store strangers.
Then I would go to church and go home....to a bath. Sounds like I would have a full day!
Happy Monday!
ahhhh, i feel so relaxed just reading this and listening to this music.
Sister, you are just like me==cinnamon french toast and all!! I would love to curl up in a blanket with nothing to do but read and maybe watch some BBC mysteries all day long. In a blanket. With a fire. With the boys playing nearby, not fighting. ;)
sounds nice.......
i am heading to the beach on thursday with the family so i am going to pretend one of those is my hookie day.
i would sleep til 7 hopefully, put on my walking shoes and stroll along the beach. listening to the waves hit the shore and the seaguls bid me a good morning. i would grab a cup of coffee for the walk back. switch the tennies for my suit and some books then head back to the beach with a lawn chair and umbrella. there i would spend the rest of the day. reading, watching, thinking, dreaming.
thanks for this amazing post.
ahhhh the thing I love most about your blog, Suzanne - that your words make me pause and reflect for a moment. Hmmmm...I would definitely visit one of my working girlfriends on her lunch hour to grab a bite and catch up. Then I would wander around Barnes & Noble forever, checking out all the new releases, buy one I have been dying to read, and have a cup of coffee while devouring it. Oh I could go on and on with this one! Thanks for a dreamy moment!
Hmmm. No dogs asking me to let them out (endlessly) - my husband would be in charge of that for the day. Hot chocolate with a big old marshmallow, a good book (preferably a mystery that I can't put down), my flannel pjs, some crocheting and a great old black and white movie. I'd add a fire in the fireplace, but we don't have one! In my fantasy, we would.
xo
Claudia
HEY! Im your newest follower!!! I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE your blog! I could stay here all day! LOVE the cinnamon rolls...Could you FedEx some of those to me IMMEDATELY?!
I have an interior design buss and blog..im doing 14 days of xmas trees and would BEYOND ADORE you to come visit! I have a giveaway too
*ENTER CUSTOM FLORAL Give-Away Here *
xoxokara
well i love a good day of *wagging* as we call it in australia!
do you recall my post on *our mental health days*...where my husband & i drop the kids to school together & then just go for lunch together...for hours...
it's good for our souls...cheaper than a whole weekend away...& *we* just feel re-charged '& back on the same page again...
hugs to you lovely....melissa xxx
Oooh, pink slippers and jammies. THAT's how I would spend my day and do many days.
Hi Suzanne,
I no longer work for a living, so everyday is a hooky day! :)
I've got a fire going in the woodstove and I'm drinking coffee while visiting my favorite blogs. Then Hubby & I will have lunch and read in the afternoon - I'm reading Jane Austen's 'Emma'.
Here's hoping you have a great week with some hooky time included!
:)
Zuzu
I would spend the day with YOU talking over coffee in the morning-then off to where ever- looking at little shops somewhere warm- then we would find the BEST restaurant on the water and have lunch-then we would forget what time it was and rush home to our families--
That would be a great day playing Hooky:) The someplace warm this time of year would be the hard part for us =)
Good morning Suzanne....oh what a delight.....a day playing HOOKY .... I did have once recently.....I used a gift certificate give to me LAST CHRISTMAS for a day at the Spa....a total body scrub and massage then lounging in the aromatherapy room and jacuzzi set me to rights.....I can't believe I waited so long to do this!!!
Sometimes I totally miss the boat in taking care of myself.....but not this year.....I'm going to use that Spa gift certificate that I know I will receive before next HALLOWEEN (O:(O:(O:. LOL LOL
Xo
Jo
Hi Lovey, I would have a pajama day with coffee and a good book. No tv or internet or phone for that matter. We often do this while on vacation in the mountains. Happy Thanksgiving♥O
I love this post. I have had a very hectic work schedule lately so if I had a "me" day I would stay in my pajamas and read and nap all day...Oh, and eat lots of chocolate! A girl can dream!
I LOVE this post Suzanne!!!! (And adore that first picture of the snow angel!) I wish for HOOKY days almost every day ... just so I could do a lot of nothing!
I would stay in jammies all day, hair in a pony tail and as my grandfather used to say, just "tinker" around the house. I would fill my cd player with my favorite music and hit random play. Oh - and definitely make sure I had chocolate to nibble on all day too!
All four of your days sound magical.
I would just be happy not to worry over school applications - have someone erase my memory of them over a day... I'd have hot scones or baked eggs and strawberries with just a touch of tea-honey...and then I'd play with cats, read, wear my favorite pj's, and somehow my hair would be perfect.
My days are pretty perfect...sometimes I have too much time on my hands, but I so appreciate it at this time in my life.
For a day of hooky...I would be up at the lake, floating in the boat, reading a beachy sort of book, the sun on my shoulders and wind at my back. Yes, I can imagine that so clearly! And I have a big smile on my face!
Wishing you a wonderful week and a Happy Thanksgiving, Suzanne!
XO,
Jane
Great post - I'm thinking a transporting hooky day and go to Hawaii - my husband and I drinking a beer on a waterfront porch and playing cards while the kids play nicely in the background...
Have a great Thanksgiving week!
well, this is fun! first coffee with my favorite vanilla caramel creamer and my new country living. then some creative time without any requests or household chores in between :) xo susan
Oh I love this post! We do still get snow days here, which we get excited about even though we don't have little ones in school anymore! I love it when it snows and the world stands still for just a few hours or in the case of last winter, days! It's quiet and cozy and a time to reconnect...love that!
If I could play hooky I would go visit all the little shops I never seem to have time to make it to these days. And I would take tea...high tea...at a lovely tea room where no one rushes you out the door and you can sit and chat, nibble, and just "be" for awhile!
Kat :)
Hi Suzanne Sweetie...
Our beautiful friend Anita sent me by to say hello. Oh I am so thrilled that she did. Your writing today is just beautiful.
What would my hooky day hold? Oh my friend, I would go to the high country, out of the desert for one day, sit before a beautiful roaring fireplace, watch the snowflakes fall to the earth, each to their own dance, have a snuggly blanket, a couple of good books, and read to my hearts content. (Travel through them to another place and time. Peering through the pages and visit their world for the length of the pages within.) I believe I would have a cup of hot cocoa beside me, with an endless pot and a bag of large marshmallows at my beck and calling.
Ooh thank you for allowing me to take this beautiful journey today. I have so enjoyed myself. Your writing is wonderful and I will be back sweet friend. I thank Anita for introducing me to you.
I am Country Wings in Phoenix, your newest follower. I hope that you will pop by and say hello. I love meeting new friends. I would be honored if you signed up to follow my blog as well.
Country hugs to you sweet friend, Sherry
Brilliant post, Suzanne. You suggested I play hooky in your comment to me yesterday. I scratched my head for a second but now I realise we call it 'wagging' here, as Miss Melissa said.
I would read the piles of magazines which have accumulated since I started blogging and neglected my reading. That would be a delightful start! J x
to tell you the truth, and I'm serious when I say this, I like my family around me...but a day at a beach house with just my husband, and then a moonlit boat ride (in our boat) sounds just about perfect right now......
xo+blessings,
Anne Marie
p.s. have a wonderful holiday weekend Suzanne
Oh, what a lovely thought, Suzanne! I just really don't even know what I'd do...but I do know what one of my favorite days WAS, and I'd love to replicate it again one day...
...husband and I in Hawaii for a week...a trip we won. A hotel we could never have afforded otherwise! He spent one blissful day golfing at an amazing course on the ocean...I spent the same blissful day in a hammock on the hotel's private beach...right on the very edge of the water between two palm trees...books nearby ready for reading if I felt so inclined. I don't remember doing much reading...just dozing, watching the water, looking up at the swaying palms that supported me, feeling the sweet, warm, tropical breezes on my skin...a perfect day of...nothing.
That day is my "happy place". I will never forget it.
Thanks for the sweet thoughts today, dear friend...I hope you get your "do whatever you want day" very soon!
Have the happiest of Thanksgiving with your family!
Julie
A hooky day...what a wonderful thought! It would be a day without any responsibilities or schedule, just doing whatever I felt like, without guilt that I wasn't doing what I should be...something to think about, Suzanne! Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving, too! XO
played hooky today but not on purpose. a little one home with the flu--so we read books and drank tea and watched Beezus and giggled--it was almost perfect (shes still sick)
Definitely a long morning in my cupcake flannel pjs curled up on my chaise with a cozy throw, savouring each page of a new magazine with a cup of hot cocoa. Then maybe a jaunt to my favourite antique and fabric shops to putter away the afternoon and then pick up a buttertart treat for a late afternoon tea. :)
Thanks for your lovely thoughts and prayers - I'm so touched by your sweet comments and it definitely helped to get me through the tough spots xo
Oh my goodness i love this.... i've never had a day like this so my mind is going crazy with the possibilities! It would start with coffee at a coffee shop with all my blog friends so i can finally meet them and chat for hours. Maybe a spa treatment afterwards [i've never done that either} then dashing home to savor a quiet home, with dinner brought home to me by my husband that we would eat while the kids slept and we talked over a bottle of wine.
wow i hope that all happens one day!
wishing you a wonderful day,
xo,
LuLu
Coffee, art, chocolate. That about sums it up for me! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Suzanne! xo ~Lili
What a wonderful treat!
My day would include lingering with a good book, perhaps a little shopping and lunch with a dear friend.
Jo
Suzanne,
I would follow your lead but first head out with a friend who loves to scour antiques and quaint shops!
Wanna go?
xo,
~R(belgian waffles)
You have the most beautiful blog. I'd drink some hot chocolate and read a stack of my favorite magazine's and get all cozy by the fire....
Oh my goodness. To think like this is almost uncomprehensible. My to do list is always so looonnnggg.
I have had a Marie Antoinette journal/album kit that I received for my birthday 2 years ago. Sigh. I would finally put it together.
Suzanne,
Has your Greenberg arrived yet?! Mine came today!!!
As far as hooky, I got that recently when Grant took the boys to see his family. I just took my time - went to yoga, got a coffee, read, enjoyed not cooking. Then, had a friend come for the weekend - it was sheer bliss.
My boys love chocolate chip pancakes too - in fact that's what I made them for breakfast today. :)
xoxo Elizabeth
Oh boy, I think I would sleep.
Is that awful? I just need to re-charge.
I like your ideas better, though! :-)
Big hugs and wishes for a Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving!
Anne
Oh sweet friend..a day like this would be magical!
I am waiting for one to happen...we do get snow days...not too many {none last year} but we do get them..one may very well be on its way very soon. Keeping my fingers crossed.
Happy Thanksgiving my friend. xoxoxo
Suzanne, I would go to the spa and have the full treatment! Next I would lunch with friends and we would all go to the botanical gardens and wander around.
xo, Sherry
Snow days, oh the joy of the normal routine stopped in its tracks by the joy of snow! (for children anyway!) Here in the Pacific Northwest everything seems to halt ~ or at lest be delayed ~ by just an inch or 2 of snow! Even the libraries were closed the other day after just a bit of snow.
What am I doing here leaving you a comment about a day of simple bliss when I've got a Thanksgiving feast to prepare for 10 people?!?!?
I must be in denial.
Happy Thanksgiving Suzanne!!!!
~ Violet
Oh, what a wonderful cnoversation and wonderful way to visit with your family and learn about them. I can see them all the more clearly with their breakfast selections and favorite free day!
This may be one of the best written, most thoughtful posts I've read in a long while.
What would I do? Well, right now, I would decorate the house for Christmas -- partly because I need to but mostly because I simply love doing it, rediscovering old friends in big boxes. And check blogs without thought to time or rushing. Make a big pot of tea, cozy up with the new Studios and Martha I bought yesterday, and yes, knit or do cut and glue... with no interruptions. Sounds good to me!
I had one of those perfect days today. I slept until 7a.m ...that's sleeping in for me and then I sat and visited with my sweetie. Then he sat and read his book and I made a gingerbread house that I will decorate with my grandsons when they come over tomorrow. It doesn't get any better than that for me.
Another great post...
My food and day would be a duplicate of yours. :) Maybe, we're soul sisters. ha ha
Love the post! Loved the question... must do the same and pose this to my husband and daughter. What a great way to get to know the heart of our loved ones and what it is they truly love to do.
Gretchen
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