ex(PR)essed

It’s Labor Day, and I’m laboring. Seriously. I’m sitting at my desk on the third floor of Old Main listening to a train go by and thinking about all the lucky people who aren’t laboring today — like my husband, my parents, my brother, my neighbor Joe, my pastor, my friends who teach, my former PLCM co-workers, people who deliver my mail, my friend Erica the bank teller; well, you get the picture. Apparently, it’s not uncommon in higher education to work on Labor Day. Not uncommon, but certainly unfortunate.

This day typically signifies a defining moment — the change from summer to fall. Though the autumnal equinox does not take place until later in September, many perceive Labor Day as the turning point from lazy summer days marked by school and cooler days with waning daylight. That’s true indeed at Messiah. Students start classes tomorrow, and everything that comes with the students’ return is right on track — a new schedule of Lost Films, lectures, performances, concerts, athletic events, and on and on. Summer vacation is truly over.

I’m grateful for two vacations this summer — one that involved some mom time and one that involved some Jeff time. However, when I look ahead, I feel a bit anxious. No vacation until Thanksgiving? Yikes. I feel like I need a day off just to adjust to this information.