Just like Memorial Day marks the beginning of summer, Labor Day always marks the end of summer. Besides the Fourth of July, these two holidays probably spawn more picnics and outdoor fun for families than any other day of the year. I’m glad we have a good excuse to go outside and have some fun.
When I was first married, Labor Day was a time for the Miller clan to gather and say goodbye to the lazy, hazy days of summer, but it was also a day to celebrate Mom Miller. Her birthday was September 5th, so this gathering was a good time to bring gifts, have cake, and wish her well for another year. It was also a good day for the kids to spend playing and having a good time before school started. It always started after Labor Day up north, not in August as it does here.
How will you celebrate the day? I will have some brisket and corn on the cob and remember all those wonderful Labor Days of the past.
Several days before the Labor Day weekend, I start thinking about the song, “40-Hour Week” by Alabama, and bits of the lyrics come to mind. My roots run deep in blue collar America, so this song speaks to me and my family. I hope it says something to you, too.
As a retired teacher, Labor Day always meant school to me and I loved the start of new school years. Now golf, picnic and maybe a nice hike, and I still enjoy it.
The holiday is different for me, too, Neil, and I do like to sift through the memories of those holidays past.