Labor day is my favorite holiday, the one I wait for all year

"Even better than your birthday?" Eric

This takes a moment... "Yes."
Eric: I like your birthday because it lasts a whole week.
[It should last a month.]

Last night we toasted to Labor day, the onset of autumn, the hesitation now whether or not to wear white shoes.
A cool breeze swelled suddenly around us in from the windows, in from the harbor. a big ship blew it's horn as if to say

Free at last! from Summer's stifling clench! from the long lazy days and people not returning phone calls
Auto Responders set "I'm traveling someplace far beyond your wildest dreams with limited access to email..."

Let me make the message clear: Get your asses back from the Hampton's, and lets get back to work.

*The photos are of echinops (globe thistle) from the botanical garden in Akureyri, Iceland. A place far beyond my wildest dreams. One year ago today.