I haven’t had a pajama day since before COVID when attempting to recover from a severe cold. But last Thursday was chilly, misty, and icy. Fearful I’d slip going into my she shed, I stayed in the big house. And, since I wasn’t going anywhere, pajama day seemed like a great idea.
You may think I’m crazy, not having been in pajamas during the pandemic, but I commuted to work (several hundred yards to my office) and, getting dressed, albeit in very comfy clothes, seemed like the right thing to do. Besides, I routinely zoomed with my writing friends and creating the illusion of professionalism by showing up in t-shirts and shorts seemed prudent.
PAJAMA DAY HISTORY
The word pajama comes from the Hindustani pāy-jāma. Indian Muslims, Sikhs, and Hindus wore these loose, lightweight trousers with drawstring waistbands. The Europeans bought into the trend during the British rule in India during the 18th and 19th centuries. It wasn’t until around 1870 that pajamas were adapted as sleeping attire.
Today, there’s even a National Pajama Day (who knew?)—April 16th, the day after the income tax deadline. And elementary kids around Houston have pajama days where they are allowed to wear their comfy nightwear to school.
Funny how things have changed. When I was in elementary school, pajamas would have been out of the question, girls were required to wear dresses or skirts. And believe it or not, my brother frequently attended school barefooted. Plus, wearing pajamas to work was a no-no.
PAJAMA DAY LEARNING
Just because I was in PJs didn’t mean being a slouch. I attended several Zoom sessions of a history writers conference based in England, beginning at 5:30 a.m. New ideas invigorated me, such as using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help navigate writer’s block.
In between sessions, I slipped outside to check the continuing ice formation on the porch and to communicate with friends, who were being impacted by the ice storm.
PAJAMA DAY ENTERTAINMENT
Soon, working tired me; entertainment sounded preferable. My friend told me about the movie, Vengeance, on Amazon Prime. I rarely watch movies and can’t tell you the last one I saw. But this one is fabulous. So eye-popping that I’m thinking of watching it again. And, of course, I lounged in bed during the presentation, stereo headphone to boot.
PAJAMA DAY READING
After comforting breakfast food for dinner (after all, I had rebelled all day and had eaten leftovers from dinner for breakfast), I settled in bed with an eBook. Now, I usually go to sleep between eight and ten, but got engulfed in the novel, Wild Women and the Blues. I finished at 1:30 a.m.!
PAJAMA DAY LAST THOUGHTS
OK, to be quite honest with you. I got a bit antsy and frankly, bored. Gloom penetrated the big house, and my husband absolutely refuses to let me light the fireplace. Flames intrigue and mystify me, bringing comfort and joy. That’s why my office is my refuge, wood stove fires are permitted any time! I guess I’m not wired to stay in one place. My motto has always been “Places to go, things to do, and people to see!”
So, hanging up my PJs and robe until the next ice storm.
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