A Slightly Different Kind of Labor Day

by Skip Cohen

Today is Labor Day, which has been a federal holiday since 1894. Labor Day is an annual recognition of the American labor movement and celebration of the economic and social achievements of American workers. (from Google)  The meaning of Labor Day has become diluted over the years. For example, when I lived up north, it was simply the last great excuse for a party and firing up the grill with family and friends for the end of the summer.

Today, and I hope for all of you, is a day to spend with family and friends. It's a Labor Day that's a little quieter than past years, perhaps even solemn. My post yesterday about the industry losing our friend and favorite cheerleader, Kay Eskridge, has left so many of us in a less-than-celebratory mood. I'm working hard to get into a frame of mind to cherish the memories and less of the sadness.

"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened."
Dr. Seuss

​Kay would love that I just quoted Dr. Seuss in reference to the love, respect, admiration and joy so many of us feel about having had her in our lives.

And on that note, I'm doing what I hope all of you are doing - taking the day off.

Wishing everybody a great day ahead, regardless of whether or not today is a holiday for you. Make it memorable, and cherish the people you love the most. Go for those eleven-second long therapeutic hugs I always write about on Sundays. Let the people you care about most know how important a role they play in your life. We all have potential moments of joy in our lives and miss them because we're too busy chasing things that often don't really matter. Take nothing for granted.

​Happy Labor Day!