Millions of people across the United States headed off to a variety of holiday destinations to celebrate the end of summer this labor day weekend.
Campers, RV's and trailers loaded up with motorcycles, ATV's, boats and bicycles, crowded highways across the nation in the normal gridlock pattern, all in hopes of catching a little down time by relaxing and enjoying friends, family and an exorbitant amount of alcohol and grilled food.
It is historically a time when men can finally stop sucking in their bellies as they crowd around the hibatchi, a beer grasped tightly within each fist, as they begin the bragging soliloquy among fellow campers as to whose RV or camper is superior to the rest and whose boat is faster. It also affords their spouses the golden opportunity to shoo off the children for the first time in months in hopes that the youngsters will finally find a way to entertain themselves for the first time all summer.
But, for many who take this weekend and the reasonably deserted streets to finish off projects, close up pools and gardens, and a variety of other chores, this holiday marks the beginning of the fiscal year and the blessed return to school for millions of children.
At one local office supply store, managers cranked up the music in anticipation of mom's dragging their children up and down the aisles picking up last minute school supplies.
"It's an odd phenomenon watching how vastly different people's attitudes are during these last few days before school, especially for the mothers of school aged children," said the manager of a local Office Depot store. "They seem to float up and down the aisles with a look of glee in their eye, their bodies gyrating to the beat, and they don't seem to balk at spending more money than budgeted for school supplies."
This unique experience has been hailed as 'The Mom Dance' for centuries, and is as pleasing as cheese on apple pie for most.
One mother, who spent most of Monday giggling out loud for no apparent reason and who witnesses say spent a significant amount of time swirling her arms out in front of herself in what appeared to be step one of three from The Mom Dance, said the significance of this once a year spending spree was a way to set her spirit free as she anticipated more time to herself.
"Tomorrow marks the day that I can clean my house starting at eight thirty in the morning rather than waiting until everyone has dragged their ass out of bed, usually around 2 o'clock in the afternoon," she said.
Stores across the country are offering extended shopping hours today in order to accommodate those who postponed their shopping time in order to get out of town.
AUTHORS NOTE: In unrelated news, it is with great sadness that this weekend marks the passing of noted crocodile handler, Steve Irwin. He died yesterday from a puncture wound to his heart by a stingray while filming an underwater adventure at the Great Barrier Reef. Irwin, 44, leaves behind a wife and child. As a fan of Mr. Irwin, having watched several of his specials with my son, we will deeply miss his crazy antics.