Labor Day is upon us. The weekend will be filled with final trips to the beach (back off hurricane Hermine!), BBQ, the West Indian Day parade, and many other fun activities. Many are traveling, attending family reunions, or just taking that long deserved vacation. We are bombarded with many, MANY Labor Day sales blasted across our TV sets…after all, we live in a capitalist society, and money is everything. Despite the “savings” promising to usher the joy during the myriad of commercials feigning celebration of this weekend, Labor Day can’t escape the title of “the unofficial end of summer”. For those who are not already back in school, the classroom is right around the corner—sorry kids, time to hit the books…again. Those who had summer hours at work, time to get back into the old routine. Cold weather will be setting in soon, and once again, we will all sit and wait for summer to pop up again. Summer, even as an adult, is the one season that seems to fly by. Once the summer is over, Fall barely gets to set in and we are treated to Christmas décor ready for purchase. Christmas slides us into the end of the year, and Labor Day has been named the culprit that will usher us toward the end at lightning speed. Here is a thought though, instead of following what we have been programmed to believe, why not look at the Labor Day weekend as the start of something new?

Yes, as stated before, Labor Day has been reduced as the marker for the end of summer. There are many children who can’t wait to get back to school, however, there are many more who are upset that summer has “officially” ended. So, ironically, because of the labor market, Labor Day does appear to announce the end of all good times. Lazy days, vacations, and late sunsets----gone. The end of the summer block busters, pop rock and rap singles celebrating the season---over…. done. Labor Day signals the end of wearing white, (does this “rule” still stand?). Labor Day has become the bully forcing the closure of beaches and placing a halt to all things fun. It is at your dinner table, telling you that certain foods are OUT, it is in your closet telling you what to put away for the season. Looking at the many memes on line, it is apparent that Labor Day is also in the minds of the youth, and has become the dreaded holiday. It puts the period on all carefree days, and many find themselves in deep depression over it. What was once a day of celebration, has now become a day of darkness. Grover Cleveland helped Labor Day became a federal holiday in 1894. This day was to be celebrated, and it is important to remember that it is to be celebrated on the FIRST Monday in September.

The FIRST Monday in September. This means, any given year, we may have five days of summer before the first Monday in September, before all will screech to a halt. A different year may provide two days before the end. How is it that Labor Day marks the end of summer? I couldn’t find anything substantial that made any sense---and, I too at this very moment am enjoying an end of summer BBQ. I am listening to the guest lament that the end of summer is here, and I dare not say this should be a day of happiness as this holiday is meant to be celebrated, not cried over.

There is reason to celebrate. According to Laol online, “the Labor Day holiday is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of the American workers” (Laol 1). In other words, if you have a job, please be thankful about it. Yes, get out there and celebrate the fact you are employed!!!! Don’t keep up with what the media wants you to do: stop the natural progression of the seasons in its tracks, while buying into the fabricated depression. I can understand the children upset as the first day of school looms in the dark cold days to come, but come on adults--with JOBS, let’s get it together! Those looking for work? You have reason to celebrate as well! The economy has been and continues to pick up, despite what some Republicans would have you believe. Jobs are increasing, maybe not at a rapid pace, but the job market IS picking up. According to a report on line by the Plum Line through the Washington Post, the United States averaged 1,323,571 jobs under President Barrack Obama, which is amazing compared to Bush’s 160,125 average. This IS a time for celebration, so snap out of your faux trendy sadness.

For me, my life has always dictated that the fall marks the START of something. It has never been the END. My family moved to the town I would grow up in, Painesville Ohio--- in the fall. I went to college in the fall. I was one of those who loved the first day of school, and no, I wasn’t one you could beat up for it, because I would go KA-RAY-ZEE on a bro-bro if it was tried. I moved to NYC in the Fall. My favorite job of ALL time, working for the late David Steinhardt, was started in the fall (rest in peace, my great friend). I start a new school next week, a new job in the writing center at Medgar Evers College, and I have worked all summer getting together the Men’s Day service for my church which celebrates 100 years in the fall…happy birthday, Brown Memorial Baptist Church. There is one more thing that we all need to remember. The OFFICIAL end of summer is September 21, with autumn starting September 22. You can still travel, you can still dress lightly, and you can still enjoy the warm weather. You may also ask yourself, is summer the ONLY time to go on vacation? Don’t allow an “unofficial” end to something stop you. Break out of the mold, and enjoy your life. Most important, be thankful if you have a job and celebrate Labor Day with gratitude, because Grover Cleveland wanted to celebrate YOU, the hard working people of the United States.