Labor Day - The End of Summer?

 That summer has come to an end is not a pleasant thought for most, myself included. I admit I have not enjoyed the super-hot weather that kept me indoors more than I would have liked, when even my lovely screened-in porch was too hot for comfort until late afternoon when the sun disappeared behind the hill. That said, most nights cooled down perfectly for sleeping, and the air has been clean and fresh, almost without exception.

So here we are. Labor Day weekend is nearly over, and kids are back in school, parents are adjusting to new schedules and marking calendars with upcoming school events. Here at Joe's Pond, boats are being taken out of the water - some a bit early because of the work that will be done at the boat launch sometime in October. Some folks have already removed docks and put away their water toys; cupboards are being inventoried and menus are changing to use up stores in the freezer before closing camp. Those of us who stay here year around watch the process with interest. Some of us know the drill and don't envy our "snowbird" neighbors; once one makes the decision to stay "up north" year around, it gives us bragging rights on cold temperatures and snow depths. Besides, somebody has to be here to mind the Ice-Out Contest so all those folks basking in the warmth of the south can try to guess when the clock will stop. It's somehow comforting to know that the seasons change every year at Joe's Pond, more or less on schedule, no matter what chaos is going on around us.

Labor Day is no longer as much a celebration of workers as it is a celebration of the end of summe. A lot has changed since it was made an official holiday in 1894. The pandemic changed forever how some companies in U. S. operate. People are often able to work from home and prefer to; workers are in short supply, for a variety of reasons; the cost of living seems to keep rising; labor unions are becoming more popular than they have been in fifty years; and I'm not going to get into the crazy politics or the hazards of weather catastrophes these days that seem to be endless. Another change is the we'll see people still wearing white long after the Labor Day BBQ's are over. That rule was never part of the Labor Day designation. That we can wear white whenever we darn please is likely a sign of a change in  social mores. Seems like there's been a lot of that going on of late.

So with people "breaking camp", the Joe's Pond Association has a table set up at the JPA pavilion for you to deposit canned goods that still have a valid date. I'm told that donations from all around the pond are welcome, and both Danville and Cabot food shelves will benefit. Good to know. If you have food, either canned or unopened boxed, that's still good but you aren't going to use, donate it.

Yesterday I rearranged my garage. I hesitate to say that I cleaned it - that will come later. I found items out there I can't even identify, let alone remember where they came from or why I have them. Jamie identified some sort of wood splitting arrangement that he thinks our late neighbor, Louise Siemers, gave to my father many years ago when my parents still depended on the fireplace to keep warm when the power went off. It is heavy and always in the way, and I don't think it even works anymore, so it will get "recycled" and perhaps "repurposed" to Jamie. I deposited some nearly new rubber floor mats we bought for one of our cars down at the end of our driveway with some other free stuff. I had a large piece of vinyl floor covering - the kind that is installed in kitchens - that I'd used under my kitchen and bathroom sinks to make cleaning easier. It works so well I'll never need to change it, and there is still enough to cover a small bathroom floor or to line drawers or closets. Somebody may want it. If not, Jamie will take it to recycling. I'll probably add to the pile later.

My Labor Day weekend has been filled with mostly labor and getting ready for winter. Today is cool and showery, so I'm going to take some time off. But I'm not putting away my white jeans or white shoes. 

Enjoy the Labor Day break and be safe.