Happy Labor Day!

This weekend was always one of my favorites growing up - even though it was bittersweet since school usually started soon thereafter. A holiday that doesn't have any religious background, I never knew it was intended to celebrate the nation's workers and give them a day off. The US Department of Labor site says it much better. According to them, ""All other holidays are in a more or less degree connected with conflicts and battles of man's prowess over man, of strife and discord for greed and power, of glories achieved by one nation over another. Labor Day...is devoted to no man, living or dead, to no sect, race, or nation."

Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country."

History lesson aside, let me tell you what Labor Day always meant to me... Growing up, and even now, my grandmother, mother and I have always enjoyed going to yard sales. Throughout the summer I used to go out with my granny to see what goodies we could find among the stuff that someone else had deemed "clutter" or "junk." It was amazing the stuff we could find - and for quarters and other great low prices.

Each year over the Labor Day holiday, my granny would make the almost 2-hour trip to Hillsville, VA to their annual Flea Market, Antiques and Gun Show. The Gun show was just a side note as far as we were concerned. The antiques too, for that matter. We were after the treasures buried at the bottom of boxes and overlooked by the masses. I so clearly remember going from year to year with my granny. One year when we went, her sister from Maryland came with us. It was such a fun trip, regarless of the fact that it poured down rain! Even to this day, whenever my great aunt comes to visit we reminisce about the day that we stood outside in the rain with water dripping off our noses, eating hot dogs, waiting for it to stop so we could continue shopping!

Over the years, I'm afraid the sale has become more and more commercialized. You're more likely to see someone who does crafting or art for their livelihood and people who sell those knock-off pocket books than actual yard-sale stuff. But there's still a lot to see. It's grown so much over the years, the past few times I've been able to go I've stayed all day long and still not covered the whole grounds! There is one vendor I always look for, and it's neat that from year to year he still remembers who I am. Out of all the hundreds of people he sees, and considering he's from somewhere out west and just travels in for this event, he recognizes me! He sells various trinkets, but I mainly go for the old letterpress stuff her has. I asked once if he was in the business, but apparently he just buys the stuff from old printshops.

Being in the printing business myself, the old letters and plates just fascinate me. I'm so glad that technology has come as far as it has, but I really admire the way they used to set type. Each year I've been I pick up something new. One year I got letters to spell out my last name. The next, I picked up letters to spell my and my husband's name. This past year I got the letters to display the word "baby" since we didn't yet know what our baby was going to be and therefore didn't know the name. Unfortunately I haven't been able to make the trip this year, but I hope to email the man and see if I can get him to sell me the letters to spell my son's name.

Another thing I'll miss this year is the food! It's pretty much like a fair - they have the vendors who sell everything from slushies and funnel cakes to philly cheesteak sandwiches, roasted corn on the cob, etc., etc. I love the food! However, there's one thing in partiucluar that calls my name - fried oreos! I know, could you be any more unhealthy, but you've got to try them. (If you do, make sure they're cooked fresh - sometimes places cook them ahead of time and just have them sitting out, waiting for someone to buy them - that's not acceptable if you ask me!) Can I just say YUM!?! There are only a few times of year I get to have these - the fair, the local festivals during the summer, and this yard sale.

So, although I've missed my usual outing to the huge yard sale, it's still been a nice long weekend. And I've still got Monday to look forward to!

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