What you recognize when you hear the word ‘Avond4daagse’

“Wow, that you actually managed to do it surprises me.” The words of master Ad, or the principal of the school. His surprise is not entirely misplaced, because three weeks ago the Avond4daagse was without a committee and in a moment of mental lapse, I said ‘yes, I want to’ and joined a real committee. But that committee consisted of two other women who also suffer from a bit too much optimism and decisiveness. It was a ‘we can do this easily’ on the left and ‘how hard can it be’ on the right, but guys, the snot is on my mustache, I’m so busy with it. This is what’s going through my mind.

1. The route, my heavens, the route

It is fixed, we have no say in it. Every year everyone dutifully walks in a sort of conga through the streets of Haarlem, but now suddenly I feel responsible for it. How do we know where to go left and right? Are there signs? No, right? And when the five and ten kilometers split, does that happen organically? Should I stand there with two signs so everyone knows where to go?

2. Walking ten kilometers, how exhausting is that?

I have no idea. I looked it up, you should take about an hour or two. Will I be exhausted then? Or is this just equivalent to a half afternoon of shopping? That is also top sport, by the way.

3. Did I seriously agree to be a committee member?

4. Why does it always start at 18:00?

5. Why does everyone lick an orange with a mint?

6. I still need to buy mint.

7. Is there anyone who still has cloth handkerchiefs at home these days?

8. And now that we’re talking about it: is there anyone who knows how to get that orange stain out afterwards?

9. 18:00, 18:00, 18:00. That means eating at 17:00. What are we eating? Yay, what are we eating? Oh, I still need to arrange that.

10. Are pizzas already being delivered at 17:00?

11. Can’t we bring a portable DJ booth? Really no one does ‘a pot of fat’ anymore.

12. My kids don’t even know what a pot of fat is. Yes, a pot of slime, they know that, but that’s where it ends.

13. Is it really every day at 18:00?

14. And every day for ten kilometers?

I hereby book a masseur for Friday evening. And a barrel of wine.