Before we left the house today, we filled the bird feeders and raised
the flag up in front of our house. All at once, each of those two
tasks respectively seemed "unpluggy" holiday-like and obligatory for
the observance of Labor Day. (We continued our unplugginess
throughout the day: lunch at Alamo Village with "Inglorious Basterds";
restocked the wine cellar at Spec's; took Raudy to Red Bud Isle's dog
park).
 
I reckon that 2009's Labor Day will be special for many Americans with
meaning that I'm confident is unique to this year. Teddy Kennedy's
passing surely impacts many of my friends (although I've often been
surrounded by/in arguments against his politics) with greater weight
than it hits me, yet I sympathize with the great work he's done on
behalf of American workers. The holiday must echo his voice for unions
today.
 
At the same time, all of us are certainly affected by the greatest
economic slowdown we've experienced in our lifetimes. No matter who
(it is debated) stated first, "a recession is when your neighbor loses
his job - a depression is when you lose yours," I haven't met anyone
this year who hasn't had a family member, friend, or his/her self
displaced.
 
As we unplug and enjoy the last few hours of the holiday (judging from
email I received and Twitter friends, not everyone unplugged), let us
give thanks for the relaxation today...and count our blessings if we
have a job on Tuesday.
 
Did you unplug or hit the grind today?