Sunday Bliss: A Day of Adventure and Joy
My childhood Sundays were filled with excitement and exploration, thanks to my father’s boundless energy and love for our city, San Francisco. While he worked tirelessly in the family’s custom shirt factory six days a week, Sundays were reserved for special adventures with me and my best friend.
Each Sunday, my father would drive us around the city, showcasing its iconic landmarks like Lombard Street and Market Street. We would indulge in warm oatmeal cookies from Golden Gate Park, ride paddle boats on Stow Lake, and visit the zoo, where my father’s love for animals, especially monkeys and orangutans, shone through.
One of our favorite activities was driving up and down Jones Street, the steepest hill in San Francisco, turning our car rides into thrilling roller coaster experiences. We would also catch a movie, where my father would inevitably doze off, a trait I later inherited.
Despite the joyous memories, Sundays weren’t always carefree for everyone in my family. My mother, in contrast to my father’s enthusiasm, disliked Sundays, finding them disruptive and lacking routine. Her perspective on Sundays shifted when I experienced the relaxed and joyful Sundays at my college roommate Nancy’s home.
At Nancy’s house, Sundays were a time for relaxation, reading, and enjoying the sunshine. This newfound perspective on Sundays stayed with me as I started my own family. Sundays became days of fun and togetherness, filled with outings to museums, parks, and movies with my husband and three boys.
Through these experiences, I came to appreciate Sundays as a day of joy and connection, a time to create lasting memories with loved ones and explore the beauty of the world around us.