Dear Hearts,
Here we are in September (Already?)! You know what that means: The first of the “Brrr” months! Well - not hardly. At least, here on the left coast, it’s a lovely seventy-six degrees and sunny - exactly how this Happy Heart Writer likes it!
“Who doesn’t?” you ask with a hint of sarcasm.
But you know the ones I'm talking about: Septembrr, Octobrrr, Novembrrrr, and Decembrrrrr. I’m not quite certain why January and February don't include a "Brrr" suffix as they are even more brisk as well as wet and / or freezing in most parts of the country. Be that as it may, I love "Brrr" season. By the end of September, I will find myself inspired, hunkered down with coffee brewing, and writing my next tome.
But let’s see now, Dear Hearts. Wherever and whatever spot you may occupy on our beautiful globe - or flat earth if you prefer (I don’t discriminate) - the "Brrrs" bring much of the same for all of us. For the purpose of this blog post, we’ll remain focused on happenings in the USA.
First, there’s Labor Day; the last official vestige of summer. The three day (four for some) weekend when everyone heads to the pool or some natural body of water for a last splash, camping, backyard bar-b-q’s, and friends / family gatherings. Of course, there is the countless throng of folks who have to actually work on this final red, white, and blue holiday of the season. But the rest of us vow to save them a rib or two off the grill, a dash of potato salad, and a slice of watermelon for dessert.
At any rate, I hope you all enjoyed the holiday weekend because the very next day, we have all the little petrie dishes going back to school. Pretty much everyone is off the streets and in the classroom by then. I always loved getting new writing instruments (I remain addicted to these), glue sticks, notebooks, and a few new outfits. I still wax nostalgic this time of year and tend to celebrate with a purchase of one or two office supplies, whether I need them or not.
Which brings us to Grandparents’ Day. It is celebrated on the Sunday following Labor Day and, although this relatively new Hallmark holiday hasn’t exactly caught hold as firmly as Valentine’s or even St. Patrick’s Days, it’s an up-and-comer. It seems many of the schools - especially in the Midwest - make it a “thing” and allow kids to invite their grandparents to the classroom for a cupcake and a sort of “King / Queen for a day” guest of honor-ship.
One day we Americans *do* remember, however, is the ill-fated 9-11 disaster which took place in 2001. The September 11 attacks (also referred to as 9/11)[ were a series of four coordinated terrorist attacks by the Islamic terrorist group, al-Qaeda, against the United States on the morning of Tuesday, September 11, 2001. The attacks killed 2,996 people, injured over 6,000 others, and caused at least $10 billion in infrastructure and property damage; not to mention the unknown number of people who died of 9/11-related cancer and respiratory diseases in the months and years following the man-made nightmare.
Dear Hearts: It is the antithesis of a holiday and certainly a memory which causes shivers to move up and down our spines.
But it's not the kind of “Brrr“ to which we refer when we talk about the upcoming colder months of the year; the months where we enjoy actual holidays consisting of warm gatherings, delicious special foods, gifts, and perhaps travel. However, we remember; which is why the date is indelibly inked on our calendars as well as on our minds and hearts.
So, enjoy studying and working hard, hug those grands, pray for and comfort those who have experienced extreme personal loss . . .
. . . and for the love of all that is cozy, break out the woolies!
The “Brrr” months have arrived!
Comments