LABOR DAY

 

          It’s Labor Day weekend and instead of a big barbeque with family, friends and neighbors, it’s just me, myself and I, and we’re not sure if we’ll barbeque. Actually, it’s been a number of years since a big event was held at this Karlberg household, but the memories of those past remain, some of them strongly.

          The memories include many who couldn’t join me today even if invited because they are no longer here. This list would, without doubt, begin with John, but there are so many others and their faces/smiles/laughter and love for me, for each other, and for the holiday event shine brightly in my mind. In that way, I suppose they continue to live, but, still, I miss them and would welcome any one, or all of them, through my front door in less than a heartbeat.

Those memories also include the laughter of children as they ran, played, ate and drank as well as the tears that came from being too tired or having had too much sugar. The tears never lasted long and they were soon back in the game having been comforted by mommy or daddy. Today, those children are grown and some even have grown children of their own. I feel blessed to have watched them grow up and become the individuals they are today.

When it comes to guests, there’s one in particular that has stood the test of time and this may be/sound cruel, but it’s the first memory that really pops. I’m sure if I were to say something to my sons about the guest who was rather large and wore extremely short shorts and panties, they’d know immediately exactly to whom I was referring. When she leaned over the food table to fill her plate (more than once), the sight was simultaneously riveting and appalling. Yes, we were quite shameless in our private critiques and laughter. It makes me a bit sad now to think of her and how she must have felt about herself to appear in such attire.

          And speaking of the food table, let’s not forget the food, some of which I’ll probably never have again. Yes, I could still barbeque a burger, hot dog or brat, but to turn on the grill for just one of those seems a huge waste. And, yes, I’ll probably have a Double-D hot dog today, but I’ll prepare it in my little counter-top oven. It’s not quite as good, but it’s still a “hot” hotdog. I remember all the pasta and potato salads, baked beans, chips and dips; and yes, I’ve had some of each this summer, but none tasted quite as good as I remember them from previous events here. Besides, it’s difficult to make any of these just for one person without sending more than I’d want to waste to the compost bin.

I’d love to have a Jello salad but not the one made with lime and shredded vegetables. The one I’m thinking of was called a White Cap Salad. You combined packages of lime and lemon Jello with half that mixture setting up in the bottom of a container. Then you whipped cream with some sugar, added cream cheese and minced pineapple. You spread this mixture over the bottom layer, stirred up the remaining Jello that hasn’t quite set up in the bowl and poured that over the mixture. Using a fork, you’d pull some of the cream mixture up through the top making white caps. So full of sugar and fat, but oh so good. My mouth waters just typing this out.

The desserts were always yummy too. I used to make a chocolate cream cheese cake. I still have the recipe and it tasted like one of those chocolate fudgesicles you’d get as a kid. Again, lots of fat and sugar, but I certainly didn’t worry about those ingredients in my diet back then. Guests would bring other desserts and we’d enjoy those too.

As for this Labor Day weekend, I’ve kept myself busy. It was National Cinema Day on Saturday with tickets at $3.00. I went to see Bullet Train which was horribly violent but also hysterical. Brat Pitt was terrific. Since I hadn’t seen the last Thor movie, I saw that as well. It was also fairly funny and the music, three songs by Guns n’ Roses, sent me back to the days when it blared from AJ’s room. I enjoyed that movie too.

Sunday was spent grocery shopping, getting a bag of dirt from Sky Nursery so I can finish transplanting some indoor plants, a visit with Will the paint guy at Home Depot for a clear sealant for the remainder of the deck that’s under cover plus a scraper for the north side of the house and paint brushes. The day ended with a couple glasses of wine up at the neighbors, followed by more episodes of Big Sky.

Today is the actual Labor Day. I saw a funny post on Facebook about being sure to thank the mothers who LABORED to bring children into the world. While that’s not the kind of labor being celebrated today, there’s no reason not to add it to the list of things for which to be thankful. AJ is coming to labor for me and cut a few things down or off. I did try to do it on my own, but my saw broke. He shouldn’t have to labor too terribly long and can then return to his holiday. A quick trip to Snohomish to say farewell to honorary grandson Kamron who is moving to Texas on Tuesday will finish off this holiday. Well, okay, additional episodes of Big Sky watched from my bed will be the actual finish.

I am very thankful to have so many mental snapshots of people who were woven into the tapestry of my life during previous Labor Day weekends as well as the ones who touched on it this weekend. They make me smile, bring a tear or two, provide comfort and make me glad I’m still alive to initiate new memories and enjoy those of Labor Days past.