TGIF

May 8, 2020

Today is Friday and every Friday my mind rolls around to TGIF, the acronym for “Thank God it’s Friday”. This is used to express the joy one feels in knowing that the work week has officially ended and that they have two days off to enjoy.  This is a phrase that was popularized by the restaurant T.G.I. Friday’s in 1965.  The restaurant chain T.G.I. Friday’s asserts that it stands for “Thank Goodness It’s Friday”.  It is the partiers of the 70’s and 80’s that gave it the more emphatic name.

The term was rephrased in 1989 with the launch of “Thank Goodness It’s Funny”.  ABC started this Friday night programming and it ran until the year 2000. This block of TV was full of family friendly comedy shows.  This is represented by shows like Full House and later Family Matters.  I admit I was not a fan and cannot remember watching any of this fare, but I was aware of their popularity.

What the phrase TGIF means to me is “Thank God I Fish”.  The great part of making this transition is that I am not longer confined to a single day.  I can fish on any day of the week and still proudly declare, TGIF!  My fishing time has been curtailed lately.  I have gone back to work part time and my garden needs daily tending.  I enjoy what I do but it is a people-oriented task, something hard during our time of closure and social distancing.  Today is Friday.  Maybe this is a good day to put a line in the water.

THOUGHTS:  I find it interesting the different ways we are all affected by the current crisis.  We have 33 million people who are out of work and living on unemployment.  This ranges from low paid restaurant staff to high paid jobs in the travel industry.   Depending on states, we have sectors of jobs that are closed and others operating at 25-33% capacity.  I have gotten so I do not like to even write the name.  We will reopen eventually; I just hope we do not get stir crazy and force it too soon.  If it is possible, Stay home. Stay safe.