Unconventionally Conventional Labor Day
When I was younger Labor Day was a time for relaxation and family picnics at my grandmother's house in her backyard. When the swing set ESS back there all the kids had a blast swinging and sliding and having private contests between us kids of who can swing the highest before jumping off. Of course, sooner or later our parents caught on to what we were doing and made us stop so we found something else to do that of course, they would disapprove of. But, we were young and just having as much fun as we could on the last day of our summer vacation. My grandmother always brought us a special dessert to celebrate our ending bof summer.
I miss those carefree days sometimes and I think of how my son won't experience any of that with my grandmother. She's gone and so is her house but not the memories. For a short fleeting moment my son had a chance to grow up in that house but that didn't work out so well. Who would have thought people you call family can quickly stab you in the back with so many knives all at once. But, such is life, you live and learn and move on and forgive.
So, since my grandmother and step grandfather died holidays are not the same and I suppose on some level I wished they wouldn't change so much just sort of continue with them looking down from heaven. But, of course, reality was very different.
I saw my uncle the day before Labor Day and he went with me and my son to see my mom. Later that day he asked what our plans for the holiday were. I could only say nothing. He agreed that holidays are not the same. So, yesterday, we had an unconventional holiday. My mom is recovering from a broken hip at a rehabilitation facility so we went there to visit. We were invited to share in their Labor Day festivities. We had good food, talked to all kinds of good people and had a nice time. My son was the only kid there so he had extra fun with everyone telling him all kinds of stories and asking him if he needed any soda. At one point he had 4 cans of soda sitting in front of him.
It wasn't a traditional day but it was our day. It was a good day.
I miss those carefree days sometimes and I think of how my son won't experience any of that with my grandmother. She's gone and so is her house but not the memories. For a short fleeting moment my son had a chance to grow up in that house but that didn't work out so well. Who would have thought people you call family can quickly stab you in the back with so many knives all at once. But, such is life, you live and learn and move on and forgive.
So, since my grandmother and step grandfather died holidays are not the same and I suppose on some level I wished they wouldn't change so much just sort of continue with them looking down from heaven. But, of course, reality was very different.
I saw my uncle the day before Labor Day and he went with me and my son to see my mom. Later that day he asked what our plans for the holiday were. I could only say nothing. He agreed that holidays are not the same. So, yesterday, we had an unconventional holiday. My mom is recovering from a broken hip at a rehabilitation facility so we went there to visit. We were invited to share in their Labor Day festivities. We had good food, talked to all kinds of good people and had a nice time. My son was the only kid there so he had extra fun with everyone telling him all kinds of stories and asking him if he needed any soda. At one point he had 4 cans of soda sitting in front of him.
It wasn't a traditional day but it was our day. It was a good day.
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