Labor day. The last Monday of summer. For most, the worst day of the year.
Not for me. For me, Labor Day starts the best time of the year (for me at least). Let’s go over why the end of summer rocks.
Off to School
The kids have to go to school. That means we do not have to worry about what they are doing while we are at work, don’t have to search for a reason why they can’t stay out to 1 AM, and know that they will come home exhausted and ready for bed by 5 PM. They don’t ask for money everyday to see a movie. They don’t sit on the couch all day, spreading Fritos all over the couch while playing video games. When they ignore our orders to vacuum the carpet, we parents do not flip out as much because they only had a few hours to ignore us before bed. No longer are they sitting in bed at 1 PM, smoking weed and picking out which brand of condom they are going to use for the party they are going to that night.
Sigh.
They restart their training. The training that teaches them that life is a rut. And when your rut is longer and harder than others, you are successful. You will make more money. Because you have more money, you will have a better home to spend the free ten hours you have a week in. You will appreciate the two hours a week to go out with your friends. Yeah, I’m bitter! Yeah, I want what my kids have but I can’t have it! Well, for nine months, neither can they!
Football Season
OK. Had a glass of water and i’m back now.
Another reason the start of winter is great is the start of football season. Football fills the weekends with joy and togetherness. Family and friends join together during the holidays, spending hours in front of the television, eating, joking and arguing about the game.
Week days are spent talking about the past weekend’s games and what holds in store for us on the next weekend’s games.
Holidays are spent huddled around the television watching games and eating. It doesn’t matter who is playing. It doesn’t matter who wins. There’s just something about twenty-four huge men killing each other over and oddly shaped ball that gets the juices flowing.
But the games are only half the fun. There is Fantasy Football. That is for those who never could play football to be directly involved in the game. It pits the football knowledge and wisdom of men against other men. I am not a big follower of Fantasy Football. I play with my cousins. I like it because it keeps me interested in the games. I feel like I have a stake in a game even though, being from Los Angeles, I don’t even have a team.
The Weather
I like the cold. Well, maybe I just don’t like the heat. When it’s really hot, one can only get so naked. And it’s still hot. When it’s cold, all one has to do is put on more clothing, add an extra blanket or get naked with that special someone.
I love running in the Fall and Winter. I can run great distances and not sweat. And if I’m lucky, it’ll rain, making my run just a tad bit more entertaining.
Speaking of which, the rain. I love rain. It is what we have that differentiates the seasons. We don’t have snow, the sun is there most of the time and the trees don’t change color but we do get a little rain.
The Holidays
I LOVE the holidays. I can tell you exactly when my mood spikes and stays at a high level. It is 12:01 AM October 31. That’s right, Halloween. Though my kids are too old to really be fun on Halloween, it is still fun at work. My co-workers will dress up and hand out candy. Every channel on television is showing some old horror film that I have forgotten about. I love horror movies.
Less than a month later, Thanksgiving comes. That means family, food and football. Lots of food and lots of football. And everyone eats and watches football. Even those who do not know anything about football. I make absolutely sure I do not skip a day of running Thanksgiving week.
Less than a month later, Christmas comes around. Now, believe it or not, I am not a huge fan of Christmas. This has to do with the exchanging of gifts. I hate shopping, I’m not rich and I always have no idea what to get people. I love the time though. And I always remind myself and others what the holiday is really about. Though I am not much of a Catholic, I am religious. I know the day is a celebration of the birth of Jesus and this makes me happy, even when things are not going well. I remember that, no matter how bad things may be, they will get better and am thankful for what I have.
A week later, the New Year. Not a huge fan of New Year’s. I don’t party New Year’s eve. I don’t like college football. Always mess up the date of the checks that I write. But the biggest reason is because my happy season is over. I don’t really see the New Year as a chance to start over or make any of those resolutions. But I do see it as a reminder that there is a future and that there is promise in that future.
That kind of makes that day special.
To Sum It Up
Autumn and winter are the best times of the year. It is a time of normalcy, fun, great weather and family. It is also a time when we are reminded about what is important. It is a time to remember why we are on this earth and be thankful for what we have. It is a time to look to the excitement and promise of the future and to release the heartaches of the past.
It truly is a great time.
