Change of Season

 Early September, and it is the season of change.  A sight from my morning walk on the 4th.

Labor Day weekend once had specific and important meanings.  It was a day to celebrate the role of working people in America.  Specifically it recognized the contributions of Labor Unions, and when you look at the strong, enduring work done by electricians and carpenters, factory workers and stevedores it is a worthy thing to honor.  It also used to be the official start of the political campaign season if there were an election that year.  Boy has that changed.

Actually Labor Day weekend is about change.  Summer vacation is over.  School begins.  Harvests start to come in and preparations for winter start.  The changing colors of leaves are just the most visible manifestation.

Yes it is early to see maples start to turn.  In fact this was an isolated branch among many healthy green ones.  What little I know of matters botanical suggests that early color change happens when a tree has been weakened by something.  Disease, wind damage etc.  You see change first in the most vulnerable places.

I think this is also true in a wider sense.  18 months into the Covid pandemic and 8 months after swapping one unpopular President for another there are a lot of weak spots in our society.  Leaves that will not turn brilliant colors, but simply wither and drop.

Some of these were leaves that were going to fall anyway.  I drive past movie theaters and no longer recognize them.  A scattering of cars, signs that advertise things that barely sound like entertainment but were somehow released to the "big screen" instead of just to streaming.  Restaurants have always had a high turnover rate, but now I see many that are just hanging on.  I shudder to think of what we'll see in public education if it comes to pass that they kids are consigned to another year of "virtual".  As with the trees, it is the most vulnerable, those with damage seen or unseen that will suffer the most.

To some extent that is how the world works.  There are always economic winners and losers.  And per Charles Darwin, always some leaves that will wither and die for good.  Amazon, all manner of home improvement stores, private schools, all having times of plenty.

Nobody can object to change, as the alternative is stagnation.  But I prefer it in smaller increments, and that it be anticipated and planned for carefully.  Alas that is not the case these days, as those who claim to be the "grownups in the room" have dubious claims to that status.  They never learned, or perhaps have forgotten many important things.  Bills always come due.  Bandits always lurk in the mountain passes.  Insulting your foes does not make them friends, and even compliments have power only in proportion to your credibility.

I am naturally optimistic, but there are cycles to be considered.  Without question we are headed towards some darker, harder days.  And also without question, spring and new life will return.

Hang in there through the former and cherish the anticipation of the latter.

Labor Day 2021