Labor Day Gratitude

The news is good around Casa Beckperson, so this post is merely a catch-up of miscellaneous happenings. Since I'm not clever enough to wrap it all up in some meaningful, profound way, let's just say that I have a lot to be thankful for this Labor Day. Here's some examples:

First, the Sox. The lead is up to six games in the AL East, thanks in large part to the rookies, which is rather odd considering the amount of money the Sox spend for big-name players. Last night's game delivered a most unexpectedly wonderful result in the form of Clay Buchholz, who threw a no-hitter in his second major league game. We caught the last six innings of the game and it was exciting as hell. Stood and applauded in the living room as he recorded the final out: a called strike three on a poor, hapless Oriole. Today, additional rookies (Jon Lester and Jacoby Ellsbury, Hideki Okajima, to name a few) provided the fireworks that led to another win. This news, coupled with the Devil Rays taking two of three from the MFYs, makes for a truly happy weekend.

Second, we had another unexpected delight on Saturday when we spent the day in Lowell, Mass. Unbeknownst to us, Lowell (an old mill town in northern Massachusetts that is frequently disparaged) has turned into an up and coming arts community. We went specifically to see the exhibit of the original "On The Road" manuscript being shown at the Lowell National Historic Park. But, we ended up having a great day of visiting some interesting art exhibits, buying some jewelry from local artisans and enjoying a nice walk around the Market Street area. We especially enjoyed visiting the "Revolving Museum," an arts collaborative currently featuring art from local elementary and high school students. If you're ever in the area, it appears that Lowell is becoming THE place to be. My sense is that many artists being pushed out of the high rent space in Boston/Cambridge are moving here - and it couldn't be better for all of us.

Finally, Bob and I are on packing tonight for 4 nights/5 days in Chatham, at the elbow of Cape Cod. And the weather is going to be spectacular: mid-70s to low-80s for highs and almost always pure blue skies. Although we could use the rain, I hope it waits for another 6 days before it makes its appearance. Looking forward to some good seafood, meeting up with a couple of friends along the way (I hope) and beautiful views at our ocean-front hotel. We are a coupla lucky people, that's for sure.

Happy Labor Day everyone.

Mother's Day

At least this year I wasn't wished "Happy Mother's Day" by some unsuspecting waitstaff or sales clerk. Happens 'most every year and when you are child-free, and it makes for an interesting dynamic.

Should I simply thank the person for their good wishes and return same? Sometimes I do. Should I announce my child-free state and embarrass them? Depending on my mood, this can happen as well. I have to say that there also have been times when the "Happy Mother's Day" comes with a free gift. For instance, one time I received a silky-soft jewelry bag that I carry to this day. So I'm not immune from a little freebie while I play-act at being someone's mom.

And, just for fun, here's a little history of Mother's Day from Wikipedia that makes me wish Mother's Day was less commercial and more in keeping with the original design:

Julia Ward Howe wrote the Mother's Day Proclamation in 1870, as a call for peace and disarmament. Howe failed in her attempt to get formal recognition of a Mother's Day for Peace. Her idea was influenced by Ann Jarvis, a young Appalachian homemaker who, starting in 1858, had attempted to improve sanitation through what she called Mothers' Work Days. She organized women throughout the Civil War to work for better sanitary conditions for both sides, and in 1868 she began work to reconcile Union and Confederate neighbors. In parts of the United States it is customary to plant tomatoes outdoors after mother's day (and not before.)

When Jarvis died, her daughter, named Anna Jarvis, started the crusade to found a memorial day for women. The first such Mother's Day was celebrated in Grafton, West Virginia, on May 10, 1908, in the church where the elder Ann Jarvis had taught Sunday School. Grafton is the home to the International Mother's Day Shrine. From there, the custom caught on — spreading eventually to 45 states. The holiday was declared officially by some states beginning in 1912. In 1914 President Woodrow Wilson declared the first national Mother's Day, as a day for American citizens to show the flag in honor of those mothers whose sons had died in war (with specific reference to The Great War, now known as World War I). Nine years after the first official Mother's Day holiday, commercialization of the U.S. holiday became so rampant that Anna Jarvis herself became a major opponent of what the holiday had become. Mother's Day continues to this day to be one of the most commercially successful U.S. holidays.

So, I hope the rest of you Moms were treated well by your young'uns...and the service person nearest you.