Happy Monday, happy September, and happy National Labor Day. I always look forward to all Mondays, as they’re my 52 Chances a year, in which I get to share Memories of My Mom with you.
September observes National Americana Month and more. “Americana” is basically patriotic nostalgia usually related to the United States’ culture and history – especially from the Native American, Colonial era, and mid-20th century influences. Given our melting-pot foundation, Americana can include almost anything.
Traditional Americana is mainly represented by food, art, music, literature, etc. – anything that’s stereotypical American, like red, white, and blue. Examples are likened to Norman Rockwell’s art work, displayed on over 300 covers of The Saturday Evening Post, for many years.
Rockwell depicted the simple, small-town, middle-class lifestyle of Americans as humble, God-fearing people enjoying a strong and prosperous family life – with Americana-styled elements like Coca-Cola memorabilia, blue-collar workers, white-picket fences, denim jeans, baseball, and apple pie.
Today is also one of the most Americana holidays… National Labor Day, which pays tribute to the social and economic accomplishments of American workers and also commemorates the achievements of the labor movement. In addition, it’s considered the unofficial end of summer – just as Memorial Day is considered the unofficial start of summer.
Since 1894, Labor Day has always been observed on the first Monday in September. Thus, the date changes annually, falling anywhere from the first to the seventh of the month. This year is the earliest Labor Day date we’ve had since 2014. Next year, it will be on the 7th, which is its latest possible date. It hasn’t fallen that late in September since 2020.
Today, more than 160 countries commemorate their own Labor Day observances, celebrating the accomplishments of their own labor movements, as well as the continued evolution of improving working conditions for everyone, everywhere.
Traditional Americana celebrations for this day commonly start with a parade to honor American workers and the first parade for workers’ rights, which was held in New York City, in September of 1882. About 10,000 workers marched from the city hall to Union Square, advocating for better working conditions, compensation, and more.
Workers’ rights have come a long way in the last 143 years but they still have a long way to go, as well. That’s why we continue to celebrate the American workers who have built up the U.S. economy to be the best in the world.
Above is a picture of me, my siblings, and 2 neighbor-boys, standing in front of the Algonac Lions Club “River Queen” trolley that was in all of our local parades. I think this picture was from a Labor Day weekend in 1970, when we got to ride on the trolley with Dad, during the parade, since he was a Lions Club member. That was so fun.
There are a variety of festivities, today – backyard barbeques, community picnics, outdoor concerts, festivals, fireworks –even shopping “celebrations”, as retailers offer big Labor Day weekend discounts to sell through the rest of their summer stock, while filling up their seasonal areas with all things Halloween and autumn-harvest themed.
These days, retail stock rooms are also filing up with Christmas inventory (to get ahead of the tariffs). Apple and pumpkin spices are added into everything. In fact, many Michigan cider mills began opening this past weekend for the “unofficial fall” holiday, as well as the apple harvest season.
Moreover, families love taking advantage of the extra-long weekend to go on one more summer vacation before the kids go back to school. Thus, this “three-day weekend” also happens to be one of the busiest travel days of the year.
According to Wikipedia.org, “Of the 7% of Americans who take two-week vacations, many take their vacations during the two weeks ending Labor Day weekend.” Some kids have already gone back to school last week and others go back tomorrow. When my siblings and I were young, we went back to school the day after Labor Day.
I think that’s the main reason why Mom celebrated Labor Day – because it meant we were going back to school the next day and she could start her vacation, which inspired her to write the following syndicated satirical editorial.
“No Laughing Matter”, by Gloria Pitzer (Algonac, MI; Aug. 1971)
SCHOOL BEGINS AND SO DOES MOTHER’S VACATION
NEVER MIND WHAT the calendar says about the longest day of summer. It doesn’t really fall in June. It falls somewhere during the last week of August, as mothers everywhere breathlessly await the beginning of another school year!
When listening to a child lick a postage stamp in the next room begins to give me a headache and the cat seems to be stomping his paws and even my Mixmaster and my vacuum cleaner sound like mini bikes, I know it’s time for school to start.
This is what happens when you live with children who believe that the same door they left open all winter should be slammed all summer. And all I have to show for 10 weeks of summer, is a tape recording of 400 hours of the kids next door, gunning their motorcycles under my kitchen windows…
Which I felt would make a lovely remembrance for their mother who has been out, working in a pleasant air-conditioned office. Someday, she may want to know what she missed while her boys were growing up. I can tell her what she missed – migraines, excessive nervous acidity and hives, that’s what!
The first 8 weeks of summer rushed past us so quickly – it was like catching quicksilver in greased gloves. Suddenly, there was our 15-year old [son], telling us he needed back-to-school clothes; but he’d like some new blue jeans that didn’t look like new blue jeans.
Honestly, I don’t know where you can buy new blue jeans with broken zippers, frayed hems, worn seats and patched knees. He [also] said he had wished he had bought his school shoes last month, so he could have had plenty of time to scuff up the toes and run the heels over before school started
Then, nobody would accuse him of wearing Sunday school clothes. It is during the [unofficial] last week of summer that my Avon lady sends me a CARE package and my mother apologizes for not having had the children visit her more often before they had to go back to school.
I receive fliers from the drug store advertising Christmas wrappings and ribbons, and you can’t find a 99-cent Styrofoam cooler anywhere in town for the Labor Day picnic you wish you didn’t have to attend, because any picnic with 5 children is no PICNIC!
It is during the [unofficial] last week of summer that I’m ready to vote “yes” in a school bond issue and school supplies that were on sale in July are being replaced on dime store counters by Halloween candy and costumes.
It is during the [unofficial] last week of summer that a neighbor stops by to see if he ever returned the lawn mower he borrowed from us and is disappointed when he learns he didn’t because he wanted to borrow it again!
Actually, the longest day of summer can make one weak – especially if she’s a mother!
Another Americana celebration for Labor Day is the annual Mackinac Bridge Walk. Walking across the Mackinac Bridge (aka: “Mighty Mac”) honors the workers who built it and those who lost their lives trying. The “Mighty Mac” has bridged the Straits of Mackinac since 1957, connecting the upper and lower peninsulas of Michigan.
At 26,372 feet (5 miles), it’s the third longest suspension bridge in North America. According to the Mackinac Bridge Authority, “The bridge walk has been an annual event since 1958, with the exception of 2020. Between 25,000 and 30,000 people have participated.” The bridge is shut down to motor traffic all morning, for the safety of the walkers.
Gloria Pitzer’s Mixed Blessings – Recipes & Remedies (Secret RecipesTM, St. Clair, MI; March 1984, pp. 23-24)
IN THE SUMMERTIME…
…THROUGHOUT UPSTATE MICHIGAN, the roads borough through tunnels of green trees for miles and miles. There’ll be light traffic on these curving two-lane highways with single cars spaced two blocks or so apart coming toward you.
There was the quaint and very unique Settling Inn at the village of Northport, the most northern point of M-22. And farther south there was the Sugarfoot Saloon at Leelanau, near the Sugarfoot Mountain Resort.
It was quiet country, secluded but refreshing, compared to sophisticated urban activity. At County Road 669, a sign announced, ‘Sleeping Bear Dunes straight ahead on M-22’. The road curved like a long licorice ribbon, up and down the hillsides of densely grown White Birches, Scotch Pines, Maples, Oaks and Poplars.
Suddenly we were conscious of how clean the air smelled. The city wasn’t like this! What a lovely contrast! What a splendid memory! The first time we saw the Traverse Bay area and upstate Michigan, we fell in love with it. It was Labor Day and summer was still at the peak of its promise.
Six weeks later, we went back to the bay area to feast our eyes on the glorious, fiery colors of fall. There was a crisp, clean chill in the air. Those long, straight, two-lane roads through the peninsula still lay like licorice ribbons on the slopes and hills of Old Mission region.
The side roads were cut like corridors through a series of canopies in brilliant orange, red and yellow, where the trees were all standing like military sentries in full dress uniforms, crossing their branches above the roads like honor guards with their swords raised high.
It was a trip back into another time zone – peaceful valleys and wooded hillsides abundant was sturdy hedges of tall trees framing well-manicured cherry orchards, acres upon acres of them, as well as apple groves in great abundance everywhere!
Here and there a farmhouse and a weather-worn, well-kept barn reminded you that it was a populated and prosperous region, after all. The prosperity appeared to represent hard work, a practical living style and simplicity of needs, unlike the atmosphere of city dwelling.
It’s National Sewing Month! See Esther Carter’s Crafts (ideas) on the Crafts tab. I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about my memories of my mom, her memories, and other related things. If you have questions or comments, feel free to email me at therecipedetective@outlook.com. You can also find me on Facebook: @TheRecipeDetective. Thanks for visiting!
IN CLOSING…
In honor of TODAY, being the start of National Chicken Month, here’s Mom’s copycat recipe for “Buttermilk Fried Chicken”; as seen in her self-published cookbook, Sugar-Free Recipes (Secret RecipesTM, St. Clair, MI; Nov. 1987, p. 74). As always, I’m asking only for proper credit if you care to re-share it.
P.S. Food-for-thought until next Monday…
Today is also… National Chicken Boy’s Day.
Tomorrow is… National Blueberry Popsicle Day.
Wednesday, September 3rd, is… National Welsh Rarebit Day and U.S. Bowling League Day.
Thursday, September 4th, is… National Spice Blend Day, National Wildlife Day, National Newspaper Carrier Day, and National Macadamia Nut Day.
September 5th is… National Cheese Pizza Day and National Be Late For Something Day. Plus, as September’s first Friday (for 2025), it’s also… National Lazy Mom’s Day, National Food Bank Day, and National Chianti Day.
September 6th is… National Coffee Ice Cream Day and National Read A Book Day. Plus, as September’s first Saturday (for 2025), it’s also… National Tailgating Day and National Play Outside Day (which is the first Saturday of every month).
September 7th is… National Beer Lover’s Day, National Acorn Squash Day, National Salami Day, and National New Hampshire Day. Plus, as the Sunday after Labor Day (for 2025), it’s also… National Grandparent’s Day. Additionally, as the start of the first FULL week in September (for2025), it’s also the start of… National Waffle Week.
Have a great week!
…35 down and 17 to go!
