The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

Labor of Love:

Dessa Rodeffer-Quill Publisher-Owner

1 September 2004

This Labor Day, we will take the day off at The Quill and celebrate the social and economic achievements of the American workers. This yearly tribute is when we extend a day off to those who routinely work and bring strength and prosperity to our country, making it the strongest country in the world.

I am proud to be a part of a country, and a community who endeavor to take care of business so we can prosper.

But, of late, when I see the words "Labor Day" I have something completely different on my mind. That is the laboring a mother does to bring into this world a new born baby.

My daughter, Darci Ericson will be be having her first child the end of September. Her "Labor Day" is somewhere around Sept. 23rd.

As she and I visit and the time gets closer, I seem to be much more anxious about the laboring day than she is. It will be a joyful day when her child is finally here, she says. The toil and pain doesn't seem to concern her. She and her husband Dan have taken a crash Lamaze course over one weekend.

I, on the other hand, told her she must learn to shut out the pain of the laboring, or it may not feel so good.

We put in the heavy toil of our jobs and there comes occasional rewards of our laboring. It is somewhat like laboring through a 9-month pregnancy and then giving birth. It's worth the work to see what has been accomplished.

Working class America deserves a holiday. They have brought us much to celebrate.