Among other things, for me, Hog Days serves as the unofficial beginning of fall. I give myself permission to drag out the orange and red and brown and gold autumn decorations that I have stashed away, just like the Christmas décor.
I pack away summer clothes and beach towels all things summer related. I know most disagree with me, but I am a self-proclaimed summer hater. I just do not like temps over 65 degrees unless I am at the beach or in the pool, so Labor Day weekend- Hog Days, for those of us from Kewanee, really is the end of summer.
I drive by the school and see the football players practicing and I go back in time to when my son played. Even the way we eat changes- we grill less and cook in the crock pot more. Grilled burgers and steaks are replaced by homemade chicken and noodles and lasagna. Slowly as the weather changes and the nights get cooler, fireplaces are lit, if not for warmth, then certainly for ambience. The flickering flames of candles scented with apples and cinnamon, or pumpkin spice fill the air. Autumn has arrived. Yay!
Ok, I got ahead of myself. Hog Days…what does Hog Days mean to me? When I was growing up it meant the carnival and corn dogs and time spent with friends. When I was in high school it was a place to go wander around with my boyfriend, knowing that months of school lurked ahead, before the wonder of Christmas break came.
As a young adult, times spent in the back alley behind Cerno’s, or the Pioneer Club. Yep, I am old- that dates me I know, so be it– drinking and listening to music and seeing all your classmates that made it back from wherever they chose to head off to college at.
Then as a young parent, it was all about the kids again, taking them to the parade, getting them cotton candy and playing stupid games you never won, for toys you could have much more easily and economically purchased at a store, and buying ticket after ticket for rides and watching the excitement on their little faces as they went round and round on the ladybugs or whatever ride they chose.
Then, in the blink of an eye the kids grow up, they want to go up town without you, spending time with their friends or whoever they are dating, and when they are old enough to hit the bar scene, it is just another worry for us parents. Time goes on, things change. It is just the circle of life.
But now as a grandparent, it changes again and we have been using the drive thru pork chop line, (Whoever came up with this needs to be commended, as it is a game changer and a great idea.) picking up food and drinks and heading up to watch the parade with grandchildren, and it brings it all back around.
Although I was not born in Kewanee, I grew up here, and I think we all have special memories of those four days. Things change, many of us have lost our parents now, and the things we remember doing with them are gone forever. And like I said, if your kids are grown, it is all different. But I think all of us begin to drive up by the tracks on Tuesday or Wednesday and call our spouse or friends with the news that the carnival has arrived.
You see the cones blocking off the roads where the rides and stands will soon be. The smell of greasy carnival food permeates the air. Even if you didn’t know the date you would know the time of year just by the smell and sounds. So yes, it is coming. Hog Days will be here soon, so remember to make new memories but take time to reflect on the history of it all- and the past.
Happy Hog Days Everyone!
