Labor Day, long weekend, meme, S. A. Young, musing

Happy Monday! And it is a happy one, for those of us living in the United States who have the day off.  It’s Labor Day, which, contrary to popular belief was not created for back-to-school or end-of-the-model-year clearance sales. No, for our readers in other parts of the world,  the day was established to honor the “the contributions that workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of the country”*, specifically the organized Labor Movement (otherwise known as, unions, which ironically have come to symbolize, for some, everything that’s wrong with this country. But I digress).

labor_day-rosie

Whatever its origins, it is the first Monday in September and, more importantly, caps off a three-day weekend. Given that we Americans get less time off than any other industrialized country in the world, we loooove our long weekends.

Labor Day, long weekend, musing, S.A. Young, autumn, meme, summer

We also tend to think of it as the unofficial end of summer and the start of the slippery slide to the holiday season and this, my friends, is just wrong. It’s Labor Day. This year, we are celebrating it on September 5. Just one week ago it was still August. Five days ago it was still August.  Has the weather changed all that much in those five days? Have all of the leaves on the trees given up their green and burst forth in resplendent shades of red, yellow and burnt sienna? I’ll go out on a limb here (see what I did there? Tree humor) and say no, they haven’t.

Labor Day, musing, S.A. Young, autumn, leaves, summer

 

It’s only Labor Day.  That ginormous bag of candy corn will still be there next month. Put down the Halloween decorations and back away from the pumpkin spice.  It’s too early for your argyle sweater. Trust me when I tell you, I’m tired of my summer clothes, too, but the suede boots will wait. I may wear white tomorrow. That’s how I roll. I’m a rebel.

Austin Powers, Labor Day, white, rebel, S. A. Young

It’s still technically summer for more than two weeks. Don’t you want to squeeze every last bit of fun out of it? Are you eager to give up going home from work while there’s still some daylight left? We New Englanders are a hardy lot, but nothing is more depressing than taking the train home at 4pm in the pitch dark. Add in the inevitable snow and I might as well be in Finland. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but I have heard they’re not a very cheerful people. I have no first hand knowledge.)

Get outside! Go to a parade! Have a barbeque!  Parade’s passed you by? Out of lighter fluid or propane? Better still, do absolutely nothing! Loll about in that lounge chair with a book covering your face. It’s your right as an American!

Labor Day, relaxing, American, holiday, S. A. Young

What am I doing today? Um, well… I’m actually working. But I get a lot done when there’s no one else here!

(Then Auntie gets to look after little Morty for a wee while. We’ll be going to the park. Woot!)

Morty, Labor Day, long weekend, dog, S. A. Young, musing

He’s thrilled, really. He always looks like that.

Happy Labor Day! If you’re doing anything for the pure enjoyment of it, please share!  See ya Saturday!

 

*Wikipedia