A Sunday Kind of Love
These days, Sunday mornings mean lingering in bed with a second cup of coffee, the love of my life by my side. Our older cat, Boogs, is usually stretched out between us as we enjoy the start of a quiet, unplanned day. This is a far cry from our younger days! During our early days of marriage, one of us usually worked on Sundays. Then a brief lull before our children were born. We lived for a year in a tiny apartment in downtown Vancouver. Sunday mornings would start with CBS Sunday Morning hosted by Charles Kuralt, watched from the comfort of the mattress on the floor. The outdoors would finally beckon; we would stop by Benny’s Bagels for warm bagels smothered in chive cream cheese before walking the sea wall. A move to the suburbs and the birth of our two daughters, thirteen months apart, and our Sunday morning bed became a gathering place for giggles, stories, and baby snuggles. The girls grew up, and before we knew it, every Sunday morning was spent at the softball field, sometimes as early as 7 am. Sundays always held a special kind of family love - although not as quiet as these past years.
Before we emigrated to Canada in 1965, Sunday meant lunch with my grandparents. We just never made any other plans. I only have vague memories of the food. I do recall playing with my cousins and listening to the laughter of the adults. My grandfather had a parrot who was allowed to fly free most of the time. I still see him sitting on my grandfather’s shoulder, waiting impatiently for treats. The parrot scared me; he was so big, and I was so little, but I do remember I enjoyed the breeze from his wings as he flew by me.
My husband also grew up with Sunday lunch at his grandmother’s and when I asked, he reflected on the laughter that was always present in her home. He has memories of his grandmother milking the cow and being squirted by warm milk. If you got too close to her in the kitchen while she was making bread, there was a chance you would get whacked on the side of the head with dough. And, he added, you took your chance sitting beside her during lunch. She would stir her tea and then would lay the back of the hot spoon against whatever hand was nearest.
Today is Father’s Day. My youngest daughter and her partner will be joining us for brunch. Today’s celebration will be subdued as my husband recovers from dental surgery. Usually, we would be walking to the village together for a pint!
We see our children often but not every week. While our family ties are strong, distance and busy lives makes getting together every week unrealistic. But every Sunday morning still starts with Facebook conversations with our daughters and photos and videos of dogs and our granddaughter.
Now let’s talk about the other kind of Sunday loving, the one made famous by Etta James. Her debut album introduced us to her signature hit At Last with the bluesy singer rejoicing over finally finding her true love. Another track on the album, A Sunday Kind Of Love, finds her searching. She is over the good time Saturday night flings and wants a relationship that lasts all week.
I want a Sunday kind of love
A love to last past Saturday night
And I'd like to know it's more than love at first sight
And I want a Sunday kind of love
Oh, yeah, yeah
I want a, a, a love that's on the square
Can't seem to find somebody
Someone to care
And I'm on a lonely road that leads to nowhere
I need a Sunday kind of love
I do my Sunday dreaming, oh, yeah
And all my Sunday scheming
Every minute, every hour, every day
Oh, I'm hoping to discover
A certain kind of lover
Who will show me the way
And my arms need someone
Someone to enfold
To keep me warm when Mondays and Tuesdays grow cold
Love for all my life, to have and to hold
Oh, and I want a Sunday kind of love
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah
I don't want a Monday, Tuesday
A Wednesday or Thursday
Friday or Saturday
Oh, nothing but Sunday oh, yeah, yeah
I want a Sunday, Sunday
I want a Sunday kind of love
Oh, yeah
Sunday, Sunday, Sunday kind of love
My husband and I saw Etta James in concert in 2009. At 71, she belted out a sassier and sexier version of her songs! What an honour to watch this star perform while sitting beside the man who, for the past 37 years, has given me that Sunday kind of love.