Labor Day...
09/06/2011
Labor Day is the unofficial end of summer. In vacation spots across the country it is the demarcation between high summer rates and “off-season rates.” At The Farm Labor Day is a day to party down.
Yesterday The Nancy and I had our fourth annual Labor Day Picnic, and we had a blast. We usually have as many as fifty or more guests visit with us. We generally spread out all over the yard, on the front porch and all over the house. People come and bring a favorite dish of their own (though they don’t have to) and some lawn chairs and more importantly themselves. There is a big maple tree in the yard close to the house that provides lots of shade and it’s kind of neat to see folks sitting under it totally relaxed enjoying one another’s company.
The Nancy and I really don’t get to visit with our guests as we would like to, but we love having them here. The Nancy spends most of the day making sure everyone is happy – though she really doesn’t have to do it – it’s just The Nancy’s way. Me, I love the kids; I love to watch them being kids and having fun. Most of all, I love to take them out for rides in the Jeep Wrangler we keep here on The Farm more or less for just for kicks. With the top down and the doors off, I strap three kids in the seats and take off on a trail through the fields and the woods. Hearing them squeal with delight as we bump up and down in the fields and as we meander slowly through the very narrow trails in the woods brushing up against the lower hanging limbs delights me.
This year we called it a “Jungle Ride.” I mapped it out about a week ago, and even drove it with a bow saw and a pair of shears removing some of the really low hanging branches so the kids would not get smacked in their faces as we drove the route. I had planned to act as a travel guide, the Great Buwana, telling the kids about the wildlife living in jungle. Unfortunately, as the best laid plans sometimes go, this one was a dismal failure.
The weather did not play fair at all. It was “iffy” from the get go, and though The Nancy and I did all in our power to create a day other than the one forecasted, it was for naught. The weather gods were against us. I suppose they figured since the three previous Labor Day events had perfect weather they would mix it up for this one, and they sure as hell did. Just as the first of the guests arrived, it began to drizzle. By the time I was to fire up the grill, it was pouring. I made two runs with kids in the Wrangler along the Jungle Ride and had to put the Jeep in the garage – the rain was just coming down too hard to risk getting stuck somewhere along the route. Other than the grilling, which was accomplished with the grilling dude under an umbrella, all the other activities were moved inside – thank goodness we have a house large enough for fifty or so bodies to be able to move around without bumping in to each other.
Long story endless, the picnic/party was a blast. A good time was had by all. These are people The Nancy and I love, we enjoy sharing time with them, and are truly happy they chose to share this last day of official summer with us.
Now we get to look forward to next year so we can do it all over again.
And that is all I have to say about that…