Saturday, September 3, 2016

LABOR DAY MEMORIES

LABOR DAY MEMORIES By Rev. Dr. Larry Delano Coleman Saturday, September 03, 2016 LABOR DAY FESTIVITIES SIGNALLED THE END OF SUMMER. SUMMER BEGAN ON MEMORIAL DAY, CLIMAXING JULY 4. ON ALL THREE OCCASIONS WERE FLAGS, FELLOWSHIP, BARBECUE. “‘FO DAY IN THE MORNING,” DADDY WOULD BE UP FIXING HIS FIRE. OUR MEAT HAVING MARINATED THE NIGHT BEFORE, IT WAS RIGHT: PORK RIBS, PORK STEAKS, CHICKEN, HOT DOGS, HAMBURGERS. SOON AND VERY SOON IT WE ARE GOING TO MEET THE KING! HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH! WE’RE GOING TO MEAT THE KING! VOTIVE SAVORY SCENTS WAFTED ABROAD AS OUR NEIGHBORS DID AS WE TO WIT: PRAISING GOD FOR VICTORY BY SACRAMENTAL MEAT OFFERINGS. WHILE OUR HIGH PRIEST—DADDY—TENDED THE MEAT AND FIRE, WE KIDS WOULD RIDE BIKES. PLAY BALL, SWIM, VISIT FRIENDS, OR ASSIST. AS THE SUN ROSE UP HIGH, RELATIVES, FRIENDS, ASSOCIATES WOULD COME. ST. LOUIS ‘CARDINALS’ BASEBALL ON THE RADIO, BACK YARD FULL OF FOLKS, TABLES/CHAIRS UNFOLDING, THEN, OUT COME GREENS, SALADS, BREAD, BEANS. MAMA IS LAUGHING, GREETING, PRESIDING, OVER SEATING, EATING AND SUCH. A TREASURE TROVE OF BEVERAGES: BEER, POP, LEMONADE, TEA ALL CALLED. WE HEARD AND WE HELPED OURSELVES ONE AND ALL. SUCH WERE THE LABOR DAYS THAT I RECALL. HOW WENT YOURS? #30