Labor Day

Uncategorized 1 Minute

Labor Day is a national holiday in the United States, and for the last 11 years I’ve gathered with the neighbors to have a cookout. I have no idea what an ideal celebration of the day would entail. The day is often the beginning of autumnal events – the start of the new school year and easing into pumpkin season. For me, it was just an excuse to party and enjoy family and neighbors.

This year was different. I’m laughing now that I canceled our cookout because I had tendinitis in my shoulder. If I had only waited two more days, I would have canceled because of Coffee Disaster Number Two! The first awful thing happened when daughter Lise was here. I wasn’t paying attention and failed to put the cup under the drip of the coffee machine. I saw a pool of brown on the floor and knew my carelessness was to blame. Lise kindly helped me clean up the mess. It’s a shame I didn’t swear off coffee that instant (but I don’t want to have anything to do with instant coffee).

Two days ago I was putting away clean mugs and didn’t realize I’d left a mug full of coffee in the same area. I lifted two mugs with one hand and began to sling them toward the mug rack. I recognized the sound of liquid splashing on the floor and knew without looking that it was brown. Coffee Disaster Number Two!! At the very end of the cleanup, I reached a tiny bit too far and felt a muscle tearing in my upper leg. Thankfully, I didn’t fall down. After two days, I am perfectly fine as long as my right knee is always facing forward. With the least deviation, I will yelp and straighten the knee. No one needs that kind of drama, so it’s good that I am alone while waiting to heal.

If this was a holiday for you, I hope it was free of disaster.

Unknown's avatar

Published by Anne Mehrling

I'm a retiree who loves to write about life in the mountains of North Carolina.

Published

29 thoughts on “Labor Day”

  2. Well, you just made my Labor Day morning sound pretty tame! I was dealing with a sick dog which required repeatedly jumping up, putting my shoes on, and rushing to the back door. My only celebratory activity (now that the dog is okay) was having a Coke float for breakfast with the ice cream I made last night.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  3. Oh no! I know how you enjoy your get togethers with you neighbors! My GI system decided to not work right this morning. We are waiting for 5 people to join us for burgers and I’ll hump through it. Every time something like this happens I swear that I need to retire from hosting. Then another occasion comes along and well, you know how this story ends. Hope you mend fast!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

      1. I always find it hard not to do something that makes the hurt body part hurt again.

        Do you have a knee brace? Even one from the drug store can help keep your knee from twisting as much.

        Feel better soon.💐

        Like

        Reply

  7. Bless you, I must tell you that you are not alone….I have pretty much done exactly what you did. One difference is it is your leg and with me it is a shoulder. I hope your leg heals very soon. We could share stories of our mishaps if we were neighbors. Hugs Anne I hope you will be free of mishaps for sometime to come.

    Like

    Reply

Do you have a comment? I'd love to hear from you.