Celebrate Labor Day, September 5, 2011

Ever since Labor Day officially became a national holiday, on June 28, 1894, we have been honoring faithful, hard working people with celebrations of all kinds. With parades, picnics, and music festivals, we've continued to celebrate Labor Day. Men and women have always dedicated their lives to working toward the well being of their families and their country.

I dedicate this hub to my father, a dairy farmer who passed away on Valentines Day, 2008 at the age of 81. He worked hard most every day milking cows and bringing in the crops. He was in the barn by 6 AM every morning and came home for a quick lunch, and then a late dinner, then back to the barn he went. It was often 8 or 9 at night before he finally finished up in the barn.

Although he worked nonstop, he still took time to spend with his family. Many nights he got out the scrabble board, the monopoly game, or colored in our coloring books. I remember him sitting in his favorite chair watching television while his little daughters combed his hair! He tolerated this act of love, while we dreamed of being beauticians, even to the point of torturing our poor dolls by cutting their hair!

Dad taught us to work hard. When my sisters and I were knee high to a grasshopper (around 8 or 9 years old) we helped out on the farm. We drove tractor for him while he loaded the wagon with hay, and picked rock from the fields so the crops could be planted. We also pulled up rows of that darned old mustard plant that threatened to take over the corn fields.

What I loved most was getting up early in the morning in the summers to go with dad to bring the cows down from the pasture to be milked. We rode with him in his truck to the creamery about 15 miles away, and then to the auction where he took the bull calves to be sold. Farm life was hard, but it was also fun! Especially for a family with 7 kids.

Dad, I miss you every day! I'm sorry you are gone, but I know you'd rather be in Heaven than laying sick in bed all day. (My dad was rarely seen in bed in the middle of the day!) I will see you again, though, so you better be prepared for a big celebration! We'll celebrate Labor Day, your birthday, and maybe even Valentines Day! God Bless you, Dad! I love you!