I just want to take a little walk down memory lane.
I remember the Labor Day holiday as a child in Plymouth, Mass.
For Labor Day these are the things I remember. Unlike today, back then, there were no Big Pool parties or “formal invitation only” BBQ cook outs like today.
Nope, weather permitting, the BIG plan back then was “Little Pond”, today they call it MORTON’S Pond. That’s where all the BIG fun was. Nothing formal, no invitations for “selected” guest, and I don’t remember us even having to pay for parking. Maybe my parents did, I just don’t remember.
The PLAN was for each family to select a designated family member that would go to the Pond early in the day, and “hosie” a spot aka “special location” close to the water, to be used for the day by the rest of the family. And this was a major ritual. Bring the blankets and towels and any other paraphernalia that would take up space. Then lay everything out so others knew that was your family’s space for the day.
The rest of the family, mostly grown-ups, would spend the morning preparing the food and other essentials for the day. It’s amazing how much food you eat while swimming “ALL” day.
Let’s see, there was food, lots of it, drinks, for the kids, the adults and the “mature adults”, if you get what I mean. Then of course there was the extra towels, paper goods, balls, extra bathing suits, sneakers, magazines, beach chairs, nothing fancy, you know, the cheap ones that only last a season. Then the BBQ charcoal, the aluminum foil, ice, ice, and more ice. And don’t forget the matches and the radio.
OH BOY, thank GOD for station wagons back then. Today we call them SUV’s. And then of course some of the old timers brought guitars and harmonica’s. Speaking of the old timers, they made “make shift” grills, they were pretty good at cooking on those make shift grills too.
It was critical to remember “EVERYTHING” because once the family car was parked, you couldn’t leave to go back home to get something you forgot. You couldn’t leave for fear of losing that “special” parking spot.
Once we were settled, all 10 to 20 families, became one. Everyone brought extra of everything so no one had to stress about forgetting something. “Oh, do you have any extra relish? Absolutely”. “Oh my GOD, we forgot aluminum foil for the charcoal” “No problem we brought an extra roll” That’s how it went all day. In some cases, we even shared bathing suits and sweaters for the young ones. Like I said it was one family for the day.
I know it sounds like Mayberry, and of course it wasn’t at all, but by today’s standards, it was almost perfect. “EVERYONE” young and old had fun “TOGETHER”. I’m not one of those “good OLD days” people, but whatever we had back then we could sure use more of today!
So try to have a GREAT Labor Day, enjoy the parades, cook outs, road trips or even the quiet backyard book reading, just ENJOY!
And of course, give and pay tribute to all of the “hard working people” past and present because that’s what the day is suppose to represent.
Above all of that, try to make a memory you’ll WANT to remember.
that was good times that was every sunday