Happy Labor Day
Labor Day is the bookend on the opposite end of summer from its holiday beginning, Memorial Day.
July Fourth is summer’s early peak, with the promise of long light-filled days ahead. But Labor Day is summer’s last gasp, the moment I dreaded as a child because it marked the end of vacation and the start of the school year. Spiffy new clothes, a shiny bookbag, freshly sharpened pencils, and the promise of the beautiful autumn leaves’ arrival were nice. But they couldn’t make up for the fact that a new school year was beginning. Where oh where had the summer gone?
And it goes even more quickly these days. But let’s celebrate the fact that we don’t have to worry about the start of school anymore””except, perhaps, for the teachers among you.
Here’s wishing you all a Happy Labor Day! Barbecues, picnics, parades, beach, just hanging out in your yard, whatever you desire. And for the historically-minded among you, some information the origins of the holiday.
Labor Day marks the end of the Dog Days of August in TX, and thus the end of 99-103 degrees of high temperatures. And the torture of having 90 degree temperatures until 9-10 p.m.
September is still in the 90s, but for not as many hours, and not as high, so quite bearable- for those who have accustomed themselves.
Whereas the temperature getting up to 93 constitutes a Tropical Heat Wave, here the temperature maxing out at 93 means the end of summer. All in your point of view.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57qy7MCzLXA Ella Fitzgerald singing Tropical Heat Wave
I am flying my flag, with Screamin’ Eagle below it, as an expression of conservative, national pride. I suffer cognitive dissonance as I read that it is a celebration of our labor movement, which includes unfortunately, what it has become: modern left-wing SEIU and teachers unions.
Me and The Little BIG Boss have been to 4-Rivers BBQ and are watching our Rays in the 10th against the Evil Doers of Boston. 2-Days Off in a danged row!! ((-: Feel downright pampered. BEST WISHES to our Hostess and most here.
Call me a geek; but, I was that kid who actually liked the start of a new school year.
Certainly, I wished summer “vacation” could continue for ever. I loved the outdoors. I loved summer camp, and hiking, and backpacking, and overnight camping trips. Still do.
But, the beginning of a new school year was good for me. I really did enjoy meeting my new teachers, catching up with old school classmates (I went to school in a town several miles away so I didn’t see classmates outside school), getting that year’s textbooks which we had to put book covers on. (That was a simple chore using the brown paper grocery store bags). Browsing through the new text books was something that I rather enjoyed. Yea, I know, total nerd!
Just the general excitement of starting a whole new year was a thrill for me. Oh, to be a kid again!
Now, what Labor day signifies to me (living on the Jersey shore) is that the bennies go home. yea! we get our shore back!
Gathered the family together this 3 day weekend. Good food, fun with the grandchildern, and much rich, late night conversation twixt the adults. Early September is the tail end of summer, but here in the middle of the continent we often experience hot (90s) temps and plenty of humidity until late September. Labor day does not mean anything to me, but any excuse to convince the kids and their children to rally together is a good time.
This coming week I will plant golden beets, spinach, and lettuce as the last of the green beans, potatoes, garlic, leeks, and tomatoes are harvested. The kale and swiss chard will continue to prosper, and thyme and oregano will be put into jars. Life is good and the Iowa earth is bountiful.
We kayaked and canoed in the late-afternoon sun on our quiet little hilltop lake, picking out the trees and blueberry bushes here and there that flamed red already among their still-dark-green summer brethren, then paddled back in to shore for a dinner of burgers cooked over a wood fire and wine sipped as we watched the sun drop slowly below the dark wall of trees to the west, beyond the illuminated lake reflecting the rosy sky Then, as darkness fell, we counted the stars as they came out: Cassiopeia, the Big Dipper, the Little Dipper, the Milky Way only half-visible in the light of the half-moon, and the Frog’s Eyes (our own mystery constellation). Finally, one last glance at the half-moon glittering on the water and the dark trees blowing in the breeze against the glowing sky as we climbed into our cars to head for home. Goodbye, Summer.