I’m sure I don’t need to tell you that tomorrow is Labor Day (but I will) and it seems to me that, more than any other nationally-celebrated holiday, Labor Day begins a time of transition.  It isn’t just a long, holiday weekend.  Well, it is.  But it’s also about tangible change. Â
Daily routines change, traffic volumes change, vacations wind down, the days begin to become noticeably shorter, temperatures begin to become noticeably cooler (just gotta have a little faith that it’ll happen sooner rather than later) and, most important, attitudes seem to begin to mellow out a bit. Â
Of course, it’s still a day to pay tribute to the contributions and achievements of American workers, despite the fact that things have changed a bunch since Congress passed an act back in 1894 making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday in the District of Columbia and the territories.  Yes, workers still labor today. But I think you’d agree, the workforce being celebrated today isn’t at all the same as the workforce of the 19th century. Do any of those jobs even exist anymore?  Not many.  And, those that do are now mostly automated and, let’s admit it, it’s hard to get too melancholy when you’d essentially be paying homage to a machine.  Still, the Labor Day tradition continues.  Only, today, it’s more about cookouts and spending time celebrating friendships over this long weekend.  Recharging one’s batteries so to speak. Â
Or maybe it’s just that we don’t have the attention span to focus on two things at once.  Think about that. Given the choice, labor or football, where’s your attention?  Let me help.  College kickoffs already started and Labor Day is considered the “unofficial NFL season kickoff’ since, at least 99.44 percent of the time (I made that up, it’s all the time), the NFL plays its first official season game the Thursday following Labor Day.  And that’s just the beginning. Â
You now have weeks of gridiron mania in front of you.  Whether yours is spent tailgating or grilling or relaxing with your favorite sarsaparilla in your air-conditioned enclave, whether celebrating your team’s win or drowning your sorrows when that last-minute drive by the bad guys snatched defeat from the jaws of victory for your good guys, you know where Bentwater’s attention will be focused.  Doubt me?  As you’re riding around the compound this weekend, take notice of those banners your neighbors are flying on game day.  Meanwhile, here’s hoping you have a very happy (and safe) Labor Day here in Bentwater.
Send social Bentwater news and tidbits to Bruce@TheLakeConroeGroup.com
