I was one of those kids who did not apply himself well in school. Like Nancy above I loved all school holidays up to and including the big one, the summer vacation. The feeling was something like that first real day of spring weather when the snow is still around, but melting quickly as the sun radiates that new season warmth, and you can get out the, if you were lucky, new Christmas bicycle. It seemed like freedom personified.

Freedom personified could also be applied to that first week of retirement, when it seems like you are young again and playing hooky, but you're not. Ahh both good memories.