A tip of the hat

I’ve worn a few hats in my time — straw hats in the garden, fancy little tea-party numbers, hiking caps.

And I’ve worn a variety of collars as well — satin lapels at formal gatherings, turtleneck sweaters for frosty events, button-downs in the classroom. But the one I’ve spent the most time in and around has been the blue collar.

Laying tile, carrying lumber, shingling roofs has always been a part of my life. Although I no longer climb the ladders and heft the heavy loads, I’m surrounded daily by those who do.

link Sandy Fields

As another hot summer comes to a close, and the long days finally bring the refreshing sunsets a little bit earlier every evening, I tip my hat to the men and women who toil in the construction world.

It takes a massive amount of effort to put up a building. From the trucker dumping the first load of dirt to build the pad, to the electrician who puts the final fancy bulb in the chandelier, there are thousands of hours of labor … much of it quite intense.

To my fellow construction workers, the people growing our food, caring for us in hospitals, teaching children to read, and a list with no end … have a great Labor Day.

Sandy Fields keeps an online journal at her website http://www.field-days.com

E-mail her at:[email protected]