Happy Labor Day!
[NOTE: This is a slightly edited version of a previous post.]
Labor Day is the bookend standing at 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.
Here’s wishing you all a Happy Labor Day. Barbecues, picnics, the beach, just hanging out in your yard, whatever you desire and whatever you decide. And for the historically-minded among you, here’s some information on the origins of the holiday.
Ah yes, Labor Day. And I did labor. Painted some more of my deck, worked on clearing out some of my Wife’s books. Trying to sell things to book store and other items to consignment shop. Now, at 2:30 I am going to rest and start reading a book.
Labor Day marks, for my part of Texas, the end of highs of 100 and above and the beginning of lows below 75. Which still makes for warm weather, but quite bearable weather. (Though this year, very few 100 degree days.)
One time my NYC cousin visited me in late September. The temperature was in the low 90s, which for me was quite comfortable. But coming from much cooler NYC, low 90s was not at all comfortable for her. You need time to get accustomed to it.
I have been doing some housecleaning on Labor Day. Put it off until Labor Day. 🙂
One year, my work put me on a plane that arrived in Bolivia on May 1. I was surprised to find out that May 1 was Labor Day in Bolivia—as it is in most of the world. The holiday made retrieving my luggage more problematic, but I found it.
One of our neighbors flies a nice US flag; directly below it is a flag that says “86 47” (it replaced a handmade sign that he put up after the election).
I wonder if he really understands the conflict in those two “statements”?
Labor Day question: In a world with global and highly-efficient transportation and communications…and billions of people who are accustomed to low wages…is it possible for a country such as the United States to maintain its accustomed high standards of living for the large majority of its people?…and, if so, what are the key policy elements required to do this?
2021 post, which I hope to update tomorrow:
https://chicagoboyz.net/archives/66613.html
AesopFan, Your fabulous, perhaps TDS-stricken neighbor sounds … interesting.
Do you think he/she is in the minority in your area, or are you?
…
I haven’t seen that around me.
But there are a few “Resist!” screed yard signs.
Last night I dreamed of snow. Winter is coming.