Laboring Labor Day

  Many people go camping, swimming, boating, hiking, or other fun activities on Labor Day weekend.  Our family has built the tradition of celebrating 3-day weekends by re-arranging the garage.  My husband started this tradition years ago, much to the chagrin of the rest of the family.  First, we procrastinate until noon saying things like, "I need another cup of coffee"... "I just need to check the email first"..."I have to go to the bathroom"..."I need to eat."  After sufficient procrastination, we whine, mumble, sigh, and move extremely slowly to the garage.

   The fun begins as we drag the contents out of the garage onto the driveway in front of our house.  Throughout the day, there will be many people stop to peruse our treasures thinking we are having a "Yard Sale".  I have to tell them we are not selling any of the items, while my husband is nodding his head frantically in the background trying to get me to sell my grandmother's hand crocheted tablecloth to a stranger for $1.50.  

   By 4pm we have emptied the garage, filled the garbage and recycling cans, and are blowing, sweeping, and scrubbing out the empty shell.  The little boys are drenched from playing in the hose and have sprayed the cars, the windows, the dog, me, and half the garage contents at this point.  My teens are practicing extreme whining techniques, I am downing ibuprofen, and my husband is becoming frantic that we can't put it all back before the sun sets!  

   My husband likes to arrange the contents of the garage asthetically. Boxes of the same size, color, or material (plastic, cardboard, etc...).  Because he is a minimalist and nothing in the garage holds importance for him...organizing the contents by use is of no interest to my husband.  There will be Christmas ornaments next to light bulbs, and tools behind the litter box.  For the next 2-3 months, I will be rummaging through the garage in search of a screwdriver or extension cord.  When I am unable to locate what I am looking for, I will go to the store and purchase a new one.  I will be able to use it until the next time we celebrate a President's Birthday, Honor Dead People, Explorers, or Martin Luther King by re-arranging the garage!  

   My family is hoping to one day celebrate 3-day weekends differently...but it may not be until my husband becomes senile and forgets that we have a garage.  Until then, we will continue...