One of the many great things about the summer months is the abundance of long week-ends. Each month arrives with the chance to get revved up for three days of fun and frolic. However the Labor Day week-end always brings bittersweet feelings.
Once again we are treated to three days of languishing far from the trials of work. But this holiday feels more like a trip to the toy store on the way to the Dentist's.

After Labor Day we must not speak loudly in the halls. We must line up and not push each other near the water fountain. Do we all want cracked teeth? We must listen and we must speak when we are spoken to.

We must not wear white shoes.

Some of my favorite Labor Day traditions were undoubtedly, originally meant to soothe us as children, and let us believe that we had squeezed every last drop out of summer.

We would leave for the cottage on Friday night and pack so many things that it looked as if the family tradition was actually picking up and moving out of town at the end of every summer.

We would arrive at our cottage early in the evening and start the bonfire right away. My brothers would get out the fishing poles and my Dad would start puttering around with the boat and motor. Mom and my sisters and I would swim or just walk and pick wildflowers. I was always acutely aware of the different smells and sounds at this time of year. It was rare to hear a cicada whining because the weather was too cool. The chickadees beeped along beside us as we walked, taking the place of our former companions, the robins and finches. The nearby farmyard smelled of hay instead of the sweet smell of summer grass.

If the fishermen had any luck, we would batter fish with corn chips and eat them for supper. If luck was not with the mighty providers, we would have hot dogs before toasting the marshmallows.

The weekend would go on and on like this. The slow pace made it feel like we were there forever. And I believe that was the point. By keeping the rituals simple and the pace slow, every summer was good to the last drop.

Learn more about this author, Darian Jamieson.
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