That'd Better Not Be a Christmas Carol I Hear
05 Monday Sep 2016
Written by S A Young in General, Musings, Uncategorized
Tags
Austin Powers, autumn, holidays, Labor Day, long weekend, memes, Morty, New England, Photos, S.A. Young author
Share it
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).
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.
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.
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.
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!
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!)

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!
6 Comments
September 5, 2016 at 1:27 pm
I’m working today, too. I totally get the whole “get more done when everyone is gone” mantra! I’ll take a day later this month…or next. And I love Summer-turning-into-Fall! Fall does come earlier here in Utah than it did in Texas. Our trees here really have started turning colors other than green already! But that also means we get winter earlier, too. So I’m enjoying the sunshine until 7 pm or so (even though it was until 8 pm or so just a couple of weeks ago!) right now. And I’m glad that the 95-100 temps are gone for now and we’re in the sometimes-all-too-short interim of weather when you can enjoy sitting outside before we start preparing for snow and cold here in Utah. We just finished “remodeling” the back yard with a new larger patio that is now covered and has space for an eating area and a nice seating area, complete with fire pit! It’s going to be well broken-in before the dark and the cold set in…I hope! Enjoy the park with Morty…he’s lucky to have an Auntie like you!
September 5, 2016 at 1:38 pm
Thanks Mary! Your “new” backyard sounds wonderful! I hope you have a lot of time to enjoy it before the snow flies.
September 5, 2016 at 1:34 pm
I had to run into Krogers this morning for green beans for the puppies and WHAT’S THIS??!! Halloween everything. I’ll admit I picked up a package of caramel apple chocolates that Hershey’s come up with. Put it down. Picked it up. Put it down with a pfffft. It’ll be there for WEEKS yet, for Pete’s sake.
This is kind of like every other Monday for me…workout, run errands, domestic accomplishments…but I’ve got the puppies to entertain (me), so that’s a celebration!
I just love Morty’s little face!
September 5, 2016 at 1:40 pm
Me too! Those boys better keep an eye on him, I’m liable to put him in my pocket and spirit him away!