Long Weekend At The "Old Homestead"

glenmckenzie(justabitfurther)

Sep 3

Yup, it's the Labour Day Long Weekend here at the "old homestead."

In fact, Labour Day(the first Monday in September) is a national "statutory holiday "across Canada.

Often in municipalities across the country at some point during the weekend, labour organizations; unions and such often hold "Labour Day" picnics/fun gatherings and sometimes a parade to recognize the importance of workers; the various labour movements; and unions

For most people though, it becomes the last weekend of partying and revellery before the kids head back to school either Tuesday or Wednesday morning. There is no doubt about it, the "Labour Day" long weekend marks the unofficial or often the official end of summer for many.

Seeing as one day simply blends into the next, for yours truly and the good wife, the long weekend isn't popping out as anything special as an extra day off; or gearing up for back to school.

As a kid(so many years ago it's a challenge to count that high), I don't remember much about those last few days of summer, just prior to heading back to school.

The only thing that pops into my mind, is heading down to the high school a day or two before to see if the homeroom class lists had been plastered on the glass on the front of the auditorium to see which homeroom you were in and if any of your friends might be joining you.

When I was teaching, we would have been back in the school the week prior, prepping; paperwork; organizing and fine-tuning lesson plans. Back in my "teaching days", the long weekend was more or less a "long weekend" to do whatever our family wanted to do.

I never had any nervousness about school starting or what the first few days would be like. I tended to be overprepared and focused, plus I knew the kids who would be entering Grade 5(my class)...so generally no big surprises. It was a "let's get it going" approach to the school year.

So, it's the "Labour Day" long weekend once again.

Summer holidays as we know have come to an end.

You can begin to feel the crispness of autumn in the air; nighttime is earlier and earlier now.

In a strange, yet not-so-strange way, back to school can be "the most wonderful time of the year."