It’s time for another Global Writing Challenge prompt. Our current membership consists of MK’s Adventures in Style, Deb’s World, Women Over 50 Living Well, Suzy Turner, Once Upon a Time Happily Ever After, Rosie Amber, and me. Rosie chose this month’s theme, and I thought it was unique but interesting! I love the Global Writing Challenge because it’s always fun to see what others come up with…the responses rarely repeat. On top of the wonderfully different opinions and thoughts, the writing itself is wonderful! I hope you’ll visit all of these blogs because you are going to be amazed at, not only the diversity of the ideas, but the stories of each person. There’s also a link party at the end of this post!
If you want to participate…
If you’d like to join in, we post on the second Thursday of the month. You can link up with me or any of the other bloggers. Here are the next few prompts of the year:
- June: Blooming
- July: Supernatural
A little context…
Thursdays have meant different things to me over the years. First came my teenage era. During my next era, one day was no different from the others. My working era came with definite differences! Finally, I’m in my post-retirement era, and Thursday has a completely different meaning.
The Masons…
My dad was member of the Masonic Lodge in Larwill, Indiana. Masons are also known as Freemasons. If you’ve never heard of Larwill, that’s OK. Not many people have. It’s a little burg just west of my hometown. You know the kind, blink and you miss them. I don’t know how long he was a member of this secret organization, but I think it was for most of my life. I’m not going to go into anything about the Masons (though I think their reach and influence may be a bit scarier than we all think). For what it’s worth, here are a few members whose names you may or may not recognize: Wolfgang Mozart, Marquis de Lafayette, George Washington, Ludwig van Beethoven, Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor, Peter the Great, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Oscar Wilde!
Job’s Daughters…
Since Dad was a Mason, my sisters and I could be Job’s Daughters. This was an organization for…you guessed it…female relations of Masons. In other words, it didn’t just have to be your dad. It could have been your uncle or granddad. Both my older sister and I joined. I’m not going to talk much about the actual meetings because they were secret, too. Members ranged from sixth grade (around 12 years old) to high school graduates (18-19 years old). Our meetings were very structured in nature, and we wore some pretty cool robes with chords that had to be tied in a square knot! That’s how I learned how to tie one. I found the photo online so this is not my Bethel. I had forgotten about those ribbons we had to wear on our heads. My hair was (is) so fine, I had a difficult time keeping mine on. We also had to get special little ballet slippers and white hose to wear! I forget if we had to wear slips or not.
A little more…
We also had social outings and philanthropic projects. I remember being in the Christmas parade and playing a shepherd or a Wise Man. I had to have a mustache and used my mom’s eyebrow pencil to draw one. It took lots of scrubbing to get it off. I am pretty sure we also had fundraisers, but I can’t remember what they were. Oh, I almost forgot the Thursday aspect of Job’s Daughters. We met on the first and third Thursday of the month. One of my best friends was also a member. We would get to Bethel a little early, and before we changed, we’d pop down to the local drug store and get a candy bar! Honestly, the socializing was more my thing than the grand scheme of the organization! I remember going to slumber parties when I was one of the younger girls and feeling so grown up!
I was in Job’s Daughters for about five years. I quit after an incident with one of the leaders who happened to be male. It didn’t seem like a big thing at the time, but I think it was, maybe, a pattern of behavior for him. I do know he always set off “smarmy” bells in my head. I avoided him as much as I could. Surprisingly, there is a Bethel in Brownsburg where I now live. In fact, there are quite a few around me. Unfortunately, the Bethel in Columbia City is no longer there. I think that’s a shame because it was, for the most part, a good place for teenage girls to gather and have a bit of fun with adult supervision.
The missing Thursday era…
The era when I had no idea if it was Thursday or not was, of course, when I was a young mom. I was lucky enough to stay home with my kids (for the most part) until they went to school. I did, however, begin college when my youngest was one. You can read about that here.
The teaching era…
When I was teaching, Thursday was my favorite day, or rather night, of the week. It was pre-Friday! I loved it because I knew there was only one day between me and the weekend! It wasn’t that I disliked teaching. Au contraire! I loved teaching…it was the getting up at the butt crack of dawn to get ready! I hated that. I loved to sleep in and did it regularly on the weekend. I don’t know that I have more to say about Thursdays when I was teaching. But, it truly was my favorite day of the week! I asked Nigel the other day as I was preparing for this post what my favorite day of the week was when I was teaching. Without a nanosecond of hesitation, he replied, “Thursday.” I might have mentioned it a time or two! I think the photos below were both taken my last year of teaching. The first is at Camp Potawotami, a YMCA camp we would attend overnight at the end of the year. The last was a fundraiser…guess which one is me!
Current era…
Now, Thursday evenings are the nights I help teach a Bible study class for special needs adults. I love the camaraderie they have with each other. Volunteers like me are accepted but aren’t actually a part of the group (does that make sense). Most of these “kids” are in their 30s and 40s and have grown up with each other. When I can’t understand what one of them is saying, another will translate. Their joy is contagious! I am an extroverted introvert and have to make myself go places. This is one of those places. But, when I leave, I leave with a huge smile on my face. These students are just the best! They are some of the strongest people I know. For most of them, every day is a struggle. And, knowing them makes me a better person.
Where you can find me:
Linking up with Nancy’s Fashion Style, Fine-Whatever, Is This Mutton, Shelbee on the Edge, Chez Mireile, Suzy Turner, and Away from the Blue as well as Deb’s World and A Fresh Cup of Coffee. I also link up with This Blonde’s Shopping Bag, Doused in Pink, I do deClaire, Mummabstylish, Style Splash and Elegantly Dressed and Stylish as well as the Senior Salon Pit Stop (Esme’s Salon) and Slices of Life. Please check out these wonderful ladies and their blogs! I also am a co-host for Ageless Style on the third Thursday of the month and Songful Style on the last Monday of the month. I co-host Traffic Jam Weekend every Thursday with Melynda, Lisa, and Sue. I also host Final Fridays on the last Friday of the month as well as 10 on the 10th on the 10th of the month! I do hope you’ll check out all of these blogs and link parties!
What others are saying…
Suzy “shares a nostalgic look back at why Thursdays once held a special kind of magic during her early days working at a newspaper in Portugal.”
Mary Katherine is on hiatus as she wraps up her work life, takes a trip and just relaxes for a bit!
Sue “from Women Living Well After 50 is Celebrating Thursdays the quietly powerful day of the week that is a reminder to bloom.”
Debbie: “has gone with the first thing that came into her head when she heard the topic of Thursdays – a children’s nursery rhyme).”
Leslie “had a giggle when she discovered this month’s theme for the Tell Us About global writing series. She and her daughters have a private joke about ‘Thursdays’. Hope you will stop by to find out more.”
Rosie “Thursdays are Rosie’s big walking day of the week. She takes us on a tour of her local area.”
And, now, it’s your turn!
If you’d like to link up your Personal Style posts, you may link up here or at any of the other blogs!
You’ve reminded me about my Grandad, he was a Mason. I didn’t know that there were alternative groups for girls. I wonder if they have or had those here in the Uk?
It surprises me that they had groups for Masons kids, because of the secret thing. But who are you on the photos? I have no idea really, don’t recognise you. I always loved Saturday as our used to be the day with girlfriends!
Hi Marsha, I had an uncle who was in the Masons but it was such a secret society we obviously knew nothing about it. I’ve never heard of Job’s Daughters and wonder if they still exist today. What an interesting take on Thursdays prompt. I had a smile reading about the missing Thursday era when you were a young mum! Sue L x
Oh that was a fascinating insight into a part of being a (Free)mason that I hd no idea about. Wow, those robes! Actually I have visited the Masonic Lodge in Lewes (on an Historic Lewes day) and was shown their ‘jewellery’ – oh double wow!
Weekends were always the best of times throughout my working life. But now every day is free to do as one wishes. Which is why I like to put structure and deadlines into my life. That’s so interesting as a theme as I’ve never thought of Thursday as a ‘day’ to remember.
I know the English nursery rhyme with the days from the Mary Poppins books and my favorite Georgette Heyer book is called “Friday’s Child” – I had never made the connection until I once looked it up.
I’m a Thursday’s child and according to the different versions I found on Wikipedia I “have far to go” (not so sure about that), I’m “merry and glad” (sometimes), I’m “inclined to thieving” (thank you very much!). In the Guardian, I found out about the 1775 version which says I “shall arrive to great Honour” (unfortunately not at what age that is supposed to happen!).
I heard of the Masons of course, but never of “Job’s Daughters”, very interesting, thank you!
https://catswire.blogspot.com/
Forgot to add that these days Thursday is the start of my weekend which makes it a very good day! 😉
WOW Marsha, that’s impressive! I don’t know much about the Masons, apart from secret handshakes and secret meetings lol. The only other thing I know is that they’re very charitable, right? I’ve never heard of Job’s Daughters but I’m intrigued!
Love the photos of you, especially the cream pie one LOL!!!
Big hugs
Suzy xx
Thanks, Suzy! I know the Shriners (which are a higher part of Masons) are very charitable. I think I remember Dad having to sell stuff for his Lodge. Job’s Daughters was just so much fun when I was younger. It changed after I met Mike. He wasn’t thrilled about it though every male in his family (except him and one other brother) was a Mason. One was even a Shriner. One didn’t have the money to support his family, but by golly, he had his little fez and his ring!
Oh, that cream pie! I’m just glad it was cream. Years before, I told my fourth graders that any one of them who memorized their multiplication facts could put a pie in my face on the last day of school. Luckily, another teacher loaned me a pair of those big plastic goggles. I had one kid make a pie out of cold mashed potatoes with peas in them! Some of those kids (who are now in their 40s) really smashed the pies into my face. I was lucky not to have a broken nose!
This was so interesting Marsha. I had no idea there was a group for females as part of the Masons. I can relate to the not knowing what day of the week you were in when at home with your children! A great take on the prompt.
Thanks, Debbie! Job’s Daughters was a really big thing in the area where I grew up. I think it’s sad the Bethel in my hometown closed because it really was a fairly wholesome place for girls to gather and be social. Oh, yes, there were many days I had no idea what day it was. I only knew if it was naptime!!
I too never knew about Job’s Daughters and their “interesting” outfits! BTW, I’m sure slips were required because, you know, modesty.
Here’s my Mason story: In 1982, went on a long car-camping trip to Mexico in a VW Bus. We were staying on a beach south of Tulum, Quintana Roo with a group of other vagabonds. My partner drove up to Cancun with a fellow camper (we’ll call him “Dave”) for provisions in our van. On the way back, they were stopped by Federales because the van was “suspicious”! (It apparently matched a van smuggling whatever into Belize). Dave flashed his Mason’s credentials and they were released! Phew!
Even though our robes (unlike the ones I pictured) were made from a heavy cotton, I do remember having to buy a long half slip. I really loved those cords and tying them…weird, I know.
Your Mason story doesn’t surprise me one little bit. Where I grew up, the Masons were (and probably still are) a really big deal. Most of them went on to become Shriners or achieved the 33rd degree. My dad didn’t get into it that much. I do know men got jobs and really good jobs because of their Masonic connections. I think many would be surprised at how many decisions are made in this country because of Masons. I find that frightening.
What interesting reasons to like a day of the week. I don’t know if I have ever thought about it, but for me, I think it is Saturday because it is one day of the week when all of us are home and can hang out together.
I don’t know much about the Freemasons, but that does sound like a cult, Marsha. lol.
The uniforms/capes. The creepy men. Eeek.
It’s so nice you help oversee that Bible study. I’m sure it means a lot to the men and women in the group.
Thanks, Lisa! I love the Bible study group. They are so welcoming, funny, and smart! I was never a fan of Saturday when I was a kid because that was cleaning day. And, my mom did a deep cleaning every Saturday…and, we were involved in that! I don’t know if Freemasonry is a cult or not. Honestly, I don’t know much about it because it really was secret. You can watch all kinds of videos about it, though. I’m not sure if they go into the rituals involved, though. I rather doubt it. I do think it’s a bit scary because I know men have gotten jobs, appointments to other jobs, etc because they were Masons. I wouldn’t be surprised if quite a few deals aren’t made in our government by Masons. Job’s Daughter’s was based on the book of Job, but we didn’t study the book at all. It was more a social thing for me. Actually the photos I shared showed robes made from a shiny material. Ours were just cotton. But, those capes were beautiful! Yeah, that guy truly was a creep. Luckily, I didn’t have to be around him much.
When we were working, Thursdays were our favorite day too because no patients on Friday. That didn’t mean we didn’t work, but it wasn’t the usual grind.
Great prompt,
OXOX
Jodie
Thanks, Jodie! I loved what Leslie said…it was the Christmas Eve of the week! I don’t know if all teachers felt/feel that way, but I sure did!
I have heard of the Masons but not Job’s Daughters… which I mean makes sense being it’s a secret society. This was so interesting to read about.
Thanks, Joanne! Well, Job’s Daughters was secret only in the rituals we used. The group itself wasn’t secret. We had a lot of fun…that’s what I remember most.
My dad was a Mason but I had no idea about this Job’s daughter’s thing…off to google if we had it here. Loved the pics btw. #TellUsAbout
Thanks, Lydia! I googled it, and Job’s Daughters were international. I’m not sure how many there are now compared to when I was in it.
I had no idea there was such a thing as Job’s Daughters. Fascinating! I love how you went through Thursdays at each stage of your life!
Thanks, Laura! Yes, Job’s Daughters was a big thing for a while. We even had Grand Bethel where all the Bethels from around the state and Kentucky would meet once a year in the summer. I went one year and was amazed at the number of young women there!
This was such a fun post to read! My best friend was in Job’s Daughters and was the queen of her Bethel as a senior in high school. I didn’t know much about it but I knew it was a big honor and she had lots of activities and celebrations she attended over the years! I’m sorry you had an uncomfortable experience… it’s always important to listen to a gut feeling! Your references to Thursdays from a teacher’s perspective hit home for me, too! I waas always pooped when Thursday evenings rolled around but was elated once my weekly newsletter was written and I was always amazed with all we’d accomplished each week! Happy Mother’s Day, Marsha!
Thank you, Laura! Happy Mother’s Day to you, too! I wish I’d been able to make it all the way, but that’s just the way life goes sometimes. It was a little thing, and I honestly hadn’t thought about it until I was writing this post! Ah, yes, that feeling of relief on Thursdays was palpable! Of course, I still had to finish lesson plans over the weekends, but I was Ok with that.
Oh, how I love this group. I am so honored to be a part. When I saw the prompt for this month, I kind of knew which way I would take it. But am so enjoying reading everyone else’s take on Thursdays. Totally agree that Thursday was the best day of the teaching work week, with Thursday night being the Christmas Eve of the week. And I loved teaching, too, but it is exhausting, as you eluded to. I felt ‘on stage’ all week. It was wonderful to get to Friday and be able to relax a little.
PC’s grandfather was a Mason. My grandfather was something but I don’t think he was a Mason. I need to look. Really knew nothing about this organization. Thank you for sharing a little information about it. Glad you had that ‘safe’ place to grow up as a teenager. But I am sorry about the smarmy individual who tried to ruin it for you. Have had a number of smarmy men cross my path over the years, too.
Thank you for this sweet trip down Memory Lane. I really enjoyed it.
I love it, too, Leslie! Sometimes, I really have to work at it, and other times, it just flows. Oh, I love that…the Christmas Eve of the week! I always referred to it as being “on stage,” too! It was like magic…the bell would ring, and, baby, I was on! Your grandfather may have been a Shriner which is, I think, a heightened form (and way more expensive) part of the Freemasonry thing. Mike was the one who was insistent I quit as well as my mom. I was always able to avoid this guy during Bethel, but on that day (which was a public day in Franklin, Indiana), they saw how awful he was. I do wish I’d been able to go all the way, but such is life…if wishes were horses and all that!
I’m so glad you enjoyed my post. And, thank you, Leslie!
It seems that Thursdays made an impact. I ll have to catch up with Suzy! That is great you teach a Bible study with special needs people. I understand the comradierie. I used to be an aide at a middle school where I worked with special needs kids and I really enjoyed it. I prefer small groups and the kids were really respectful. Thursdays to me now, are like you with teaching… closer to Friday and the weekend!
Speaking of.. .Have a great one1
jess xx
Thanks, Jess! I really enjoy the camaraderie with the students because they have been together, as students and friends, for decades. They honestly teach me more than I teach them. But, yes, Thursdays were always that one day closer to the weekend! Have a wonderful one, Jess!