Blog - Joyful Curmudgeon - Blog
A Mary T. Hoffman Commentary from All-Creatures.org

 

"Joyful Curmudgeon" An oxymoron?
No! I see all the beauty of God's creation and I'm joyful.  At the same time, I see all the suffering and corruption going on in the world, and feel called to help expose and end it so that we may have true peace and compassion.

 

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Labor Day – 4 September 2006
By Mary T. Hoffman

For me, Labor Day, the first Monday in September, always ushers in a feeling of change and the end of summer, even though autumn’s official arrival won’t be until September 23rd this year. I have always associated this holiday with the beginning of a new school term. Where I’ve always lived – in the north – it was the time of year for putting away white shoes and summer things until the arrival of Memorial Day on May 30th.

Frank and I took advantage of the pleasant weather by enjoying a four mile walk this afternoon, and here and there we saw signs of autumn’s approach. To me, the profusion of White Wood Asters, one of the earliest blooming asters, is a harbinger of the arrival of New England Asters which make their appearance later. I always look forward to these pretty purple autumn flowers.

Now, here is a little bit that I found out about the background of this holiday: In recognition of the contributions of American workers, the holiday known as Labor Day was first celebrated on Tuesday, 5 September 1882, in New York City. The first Monday in September of each year became a legal holiday by an act of Congress on 28 June 1894.

For more on White Wood Asters, including photos, see:
http://www.all-creatures.org/picb/wfshl-aster-whitewood.html 

For more on New England Asters, including photos, see:
http://www.all-creatures.org/picb/wfshl-aster-ne.html

Go on to: Sex and Violence – 5 September 2006
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