Every Monday night, I sleep with one worry – Will I wake you earlier on Tuesday mornings? Sure enough, my alarm wakes the heck out of me in midst of some nice dreams and I tell you, I hate that moment. But I have to drag myself out of the bed, anyway. Then begins the routine muses of a Tuesday morning…

Waking up the girls is another pathetic attempt. Unless I bang the door some four times, they don’t get out of their pyjamas. I share their plight, just as much as I wish I could come out of the sleepy head the entire day. Preparing breakfast and lunch for the family is a big plan since the previous night – I consider the fastest dish to be prepared (and often it turns out worse, like this morning’s!). And also the easiest attire to be worn. Least make-up. Quick brush of the hair. Last bite in the mouth…all because we need to complete the 30-minute drive before 8:00 a.m.

Yes. First, I need to reach the elder girls to Lungtenzampa (and in pretext of saving few seconds, I leave them at the road-point to the parking lot) from where I take the long curve via Thimphu Memorial Chorten to Changangkha to drop Lucy. Unlike normal days, I am compelled to drive the other half of the road via Norling Building to reach my office in Changzamtok (lest that I get struck on the way by 8:00 a.m. and be stranded until 6:00 p.m.). Later in the evening, if my Hubby is not around, I first pick up Lucy from Norling Building and drive back to Changjiji to Lungtenphug and to Lungtenzampa to pick up the other two. That way, I enjoy the luxury of driving 30 kms extra every Tuesday.

As such, I have nothing against the Ped-day, for a person that I am who is fond of the nature and likes to contribute in any way possible. If only…the alternatives were well explored! You see, were there good public transport system arranged (for the motion here ) we would have no reservation in sending our children on them nor taking ourselves a ride. Sadly, the prying taxis (driving at such crazy speed) and the few (over-crowded) city buses are little choices for us. Walking seven-eight kilometers in the hot sun is out of choice, not with those heavy school bags and lunch baskets.

Officially, we feel crippled to move around the offices. Like my Sister-in-Law who called early morning about processing her friend’s passport and my only response was, “Today is Tuesday.” That explains all.

In the general interest of everything, I am sure our policy makers debated against odds to come up with such initiatives and their intentions can not formulate best results without the support of the citizens. It is encouraging to see our people complacently following the changes, save those few frustrated moments which I think are quite immaterial. But I really wish we had alternatives in place to make us feel Tuesdays like any other day.

Walking around is not a big thing, minus the scorching sun and the complain (the other week, a colleague kept complaining until Friday    about his aching calves). This sets me to weigh the pros and cons of the Ped-day. I also wonder if Sunday would have made any difference?

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