The Irony of Labor Day: from the perspective of Aaron McCauley

My life is anything but normal, and is often full of events that make it... exciting to say the least. Whether tragedy strikes, or something just comical happens, I believe that life is what you make it and I choose to make it an enjoyable one. One way of it of doing so, is by writing about anything and everything. So, without further adieu, I will start my story about Labor Day Weekend 2008.

August 30, 2008
Today was first day back home from college. This past week wasn't that stressful, but I would still welcome the relaxation. Maybe I would have went to see a movie, but it just so happens that I get a call from work. The word "work" is the exact opposite of relax. Anyway, being the kind and loyal employee that I am, I decided to fill in for the person who was gone. What an ironic way to start Labor Day weekend, but its ok... it's not Labor Day yet. I drive in to Family Video, yes that's where I work, trying to be optimistic. Working at a video store is an indoor job, right? Guess again, because the day I show up it isn't. First, I have to weed around the building, then change the banners, and then I have to change the words on the sign, which is the biggest pain in the world. Not only did I have to take down the letters that are 15 feet high, but I have to do it in eighty degree weather. After being drenched in sweat I walk back into the store to find myself running around like a chicken with my head cut off and on fire at the same time. There were so many customers and only two employees working. It turns out that we profited more money this particular night than any in the past five months. I'm not necessarily complaining, just merely descripting the irony of it all, but it even gets better...

August 31, 2008
After working past 1:00 a.m. the night before I woke up ready to relax. My dad decides to have a family outing which sounds great to me. So we load up the van and my family, my girlfriend, and I head for Turkey Run State Park. I figured we would get there to have a nice meal and relax, but irony strikes again. Dad and the rest of the family decide that we should go on some trails, and normally, I'm all for it. I enjoy the outdoors, so I decide to accept it, besides it can be very refreshing. "Trail 9! Trail 9! Trail 9!," my younger siblings all shout. I can see on the map that Trail 9 is the most rugged trail in the park, but I'm out-voted once again, so I decide to be optimistic about it. The trail is indeed rugged, but I'm doing just fine. In fact, I'm handling it better than anyone else. Along the way Dad makes a wrong turn, making the trail 3 miles long instead of 1, which inevitably leads us to Boulder Gorge. The steepest climb in the park full of boulders, hence the name. It is 80 feet high with no guard rails. Feeling pretty confident I decide that I'm going to be the first to the top. I start sprinting up and up until I make it close to the top, but one false step changes the situation. I slip at the top sending me tumbling backwards. Luckily I didn't fall far or get injured, but something horrible did happen as a result. I reach into my pocket and feel something quite unusual, so I pull it out. I look down to see what was once a cell phone, but now it looks more like a computer turd. So ends another day of labor and hardship on my labor day weekend. As for labor day itself...

September 1, 2008
Ah Labor Day, the day of no labor. I wish that was the case for me. I had to wake up early to make it to the Verizon store before it closed so I could get a new phone. I found a phone I liked, but it cost me. Unfortunately the phone drained me of $200, which means that I must work even more hours than before to pay off such a bill. In conclusion, I did get a freakin' awesome new phone, but my Labor Day weekend was full of nothing but physical labor, which resulted in tragedy, which in turn results in more physical labor. Irony Sucks... but it keeps life interesting.