As I was battling putting the cover on the boat yesterday morning, I still managed to admire gorgeous summertime weather. And I was thinking about this "official end to summer" thing that's supposed to be the ultimate meaning of Labor Day.

It's not.

Heck, it's not the official last hurrah for kids before school starts back either. Kids have been back in school for a couple of weeks here, and in some places they don't really have a summer vacation. When you hear someone shrieking at you that this weekend is "the official back to school shopping weekend" ignore them, too.

Ditto the big "Sell A Thons" that are in every commercial break on every TV and cable station right now. Bogus "events" too.

http://www.theoutdoorwire.com/image_archive/2168148.jpeg> This was what I saw as I was covering the boat yesterday morning. Does this look like the end of summer to you? Me neither. Jim Shepherd/OWDN photo.

Labor Day weekend is the weekend we're supposed to appreciate the work of the American worker . OK, the work might not always be as up to snuff as it once was, but the reasoning hasn't changed: this long weekend is to give workers across the country the thank you they deserve for the rest of the year's efforts.

Unfortunately, the same people who work most of the other holidays will be working this weekend, too. And we should take time to thank them for their efforts as they wait our tables, pick up and deliver our packages, cook our restaurant meals or service our cars today so we can get on the road to relaxation.

I'm not going to beat this one to death because that's a waste of my effort and your time. Instead, I'm simply going to thank you for continuing to accept our work in your eMail boxes all year long.

There are days we don't think anyone notices, and those days when we hope no one's looking because we made a bonehead error. And there are also those days when we seem to slip up and hit a nerve that brings "nastygrams" from people who seem to be waiting for any opportunity to hammer someone else's work.

It all goes with the job- just like the occasional banged knuckle goes with working with your hands. Not that either is fun. They're just part of the job of the job each of us does.

If you're off this weekend, I hope you have a great time and are back with us next week when we'll again show up in your inbox.

If you're working this weekend, thanks. All of us appreciate it-whether we remember to tell you or not.
We're not working over the entire weekend- but some of us will be working a large part of it. Not necessarily because we want to be working when most people aren't, but because of a promise I made to you nearly thirteen years ago.

So...as always, we'll keep you posted.

--Jim Shepherd