Labor Day’s Seasonal Shift

Susan‘s out on the lake wakesurfing with our nephews and several of their friends. I’m “surfing” a post-ride high from my morning cyclabout. And Carley is sprawled on a sheepskin dog bed subtly snoring, undoubtedly reliving exciting adventures over the last few days with her Labrador Retriever cousins, Bella and Dudley. If Memorial Day represents the start to summer in our American culture, Labor Day symbolizes summer’s end. This afternoon I’m feeling that annual transition, Labor Day’s seasonal shift from summer to autumn.

Sunny morning. Cloudy afternoon. And a thinning out of guests, our own and those boating on the lake, cycling, jogging, and walking local byways, and swelling ferry traffic. Some of Susan’s extended family have been visiting over the last week, and last night’s dinner at The Upper Deck was the last hurrah after many days of catching up, playing, theatre-ing, croquet-ing, bocce-ing, water sporting, and sharing meals and laughter. Today cars have been packed and homeward journeys have begun. The Labor Day seasonal shift has begun.

Perhaps you’re thinking that we have a few more weeks of summer before autumn begins. And technically you’re right. The autumnal equinox marks the official end of summer and start of fall three weeks from today, on September 21. But, in my experience celebrating this first-Monday-in-September holiday along the Adirondack Coast, summer has now given way to autumn. I’ve gathered a metaphorical hod-full of my prior observations of Labor Day’s seasonal shift to help illustrate my assertion, but first let’s dig into the “real” reason for this holiday.

For many, Labor Day means a long weekend and perhaps a chance for a beach day or backyard barbecue party. However, the holiday was created to celebrate American workers’ social and economic achievements. (Source: Los Angeles Public Library)

Even though I’m not exactly an outlier when it comes to conceiving of this holiday as an excuse to gather and celebrate with family and friends, it is worth separating norms from intentions. And the intentions of Labor Day are well worth celebrating.

Observed the first Monday in September, Labor Day is an annual celebration of the social and economic achievements of American workers. The holiday is rooted in the late nineteenth century, when labor activists pushed for a federal holiday to recognize the many contributions workers have made to America’s strength, prosperity, and well-being. (Source: U.S. Department of Labor)

The cultural core of our nation, labor is too often overlooked and taken for granted. And pausing to recognize the force of productivity, of growth, of change on Labor Day seems especially appropriate as summer begins yielding to fall. At Rosslyn, this seasonal shift is especially apparent. The constant demands of summer — gardening and mowing, beach and trail maintenance, preparing for and hosting guests, entertaining and tidying up after entertaining, managing watersports and lawn sports equipment, across three residential properties in Essex and Willsboro, and restaurant in Westport — ask much of our amazing team. And they deliver. Committedly. Collaboratively. Consistently. Reliably. Enthusiastically. And with upbeat morale. All. Summer. Long.

Now, at last, they can begin to coast a little bit as the workload becomes a little bit less remaining. Temperatures will become cooler. Humidity will start to drop. Garden and orchard harvest will continue, but that too will begin to taper in coming weeks. Today we honor Pam, Glen, Tony, Teddi, Cole, Steve, our Amish helpers, and so many others who have worked hard all summer long to support Rosslyn. Thank you!

Time for some scrapbook recollections of these liminal days during and after the Labor Day seasonal shift…

Less fluid examples of seasonality during this same period include harvesting ripe apples in the orchard, first hard frost of the autumn, and the mysteriously consistent Labor Day weekend meteorological shift. With respect to this last marker, most years we enjoy a lengthy “Indian summer”, but Labor Day — with startling predictability — plunges us into chilly, usually rainy weather as if on cue. (Source: Seasonality 101)

Then down to the water for a spectacular sunset surfing session with nephew and friends. A long week. A perfect beginning to Labor Day weekend. (Source: Apple a Day)

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So many thresholds. August-to-September. Labor Day. First frost. First hard frost. Autumn equinox. Halloween. Daylight savings time. Thanksgiving… (Source: Autumn Equinox)

Cheers to Labor Day’s seasonal shift!