I’m writing this on Labor Day. Labor Day seems to be the holiday that we all celebrate with no real understanding of why. But who’s going to complain really? We love our holidays and if nothing else Labor Day signifies the end of summer; the last weekend at the lake, barbecues with friends, fertilizing the lawn one last time before winter, and gearing up for the school year. But in my mind, this holiday also comes with the rule I was taught as a kid, “NEVER wear white after Labor Day.”
What makes this “rule” a challenge for me is that it’s usually July before I even remember that I own a pair of white capris! I’ve finally uncovered all of the summer clothes that have been lurking at the back of my closet and *BAM* it’s almost time to put them away. Around August 15, in a sudden “I need to stop wearing these in two weeks” panic I start wearing my white pants every day. Thankfully, I have two pairs so that one can be washed while the other pair is worn. (Like a person needs two pairs of white capris for the six weeks she remembers to put them on each year!)
This morning though, I had a bit of a revelation. Other countries don’t have a Labor Day in September such as we do here in “The States.” (Although, did you know that May Day is also referred to as “International Worker’s Day” and celebrates the laboring workforce in over 80 countries? Neither did I!) So, if there is no Labor Day in other countries, how do they know when to stop wearing white? Do they stop wearing white or is this just some stupid American custom? And why in the world do we allow the calendar to dictate our fashion, anyway?
Well, I’m done with all this silliness; if the women in Europe can wear white after Labor Day, why not me? That’s it! I’m gonna do it. I’m going to wear white tomorrow. Maybe. I don’t know. Perhaps I shouldn’t. It is a rule after all. Well, if you do catch me in white after Labor Day just don’t tell my mom, o.k.? It would make her feel like such a failure.
Nancy loves to laugh and considers laughter a critical part of human survival. If you were to ask, most days she would say her glass is half full but when it starts reaching the half-empty level, she reaches for a funny book or movie knowing that indeed “A cheerful heart is good medicine.” Nancy has three married sons and five grandchildren. To read more from Nancy find her at www.nancyholte.com.
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