Pioneers

Just what is a pioneer? Synonyms include leader, trailblazer, forerunner and pathfinder. Being the earliest, original or first of a particular kind; first to open or prepare; and to take part in the beginnings of something, define Pioneer further. Depending on your culture, this word can conjure up specific scenarios or people. There is even a state that has a holiday named Pioneer Day.

Having grown up in Utah I fully partook of this favored holiday. This is when my family would gather and have an extra reason to eat, enjoy fireworks, make ice cream and play games. As a child we decorated our bikes or wagons and would have a pioneer parade. I had a fun pioneer bonnet (that doubled well as a little bo peep costume for halloween) that I would wear. Where just 20 days earlier we would have finished celebrating the 4th of July and remembering our free country sometimes this holiday felt like an extension of that celebration because the activities were somewhat similar.

When we moved from Utah to Illinois I interestingly ended up working for a company based in Utah. I understand where my children get their annoying “fairness” complaint from because their mother clearly has the same problem. Everyone who worked in the headquarters office in Utah received 10 holidays a year but those of us in Illinois received 9. Hmm what is up with that? So I made a point every year to make some issue about this when the vacation schedule would be announced for the new year. I know I have it in me to persuade people to choose my way occasionally but I was unfortunately never successful with this agenda. No one understood that if we were in Illinois we should be allowed that vacation day because hey if it weren’t for Illinois there might not be any pioneer day in Utah. It was people in Illinois that drove the early saints out of their beautiful and prosperous conditions in Nauvoo forcing them to cross the Mississippi River in search for yet another place to call home. We in Illinois should have been celebrating that we could live and enjoy our homes without too much persecution.

Today our Michigan celebration of Pioneer Day did not begin with a parade and it didn’t include a day full of picnic or outdoor cooking, no parades or major fireworks (although we have a few leftover ground flowers that were fun to set off). It was just like every other summer day. But for a moment we paused to remember something that still has a special place in my heart, a day that my family was usually together. Sorry we weren’t there last night to watch the fireworks from the front lawn.

Thanks to Michaels craft store and their fun $1 wood kits the kids did get to make covered wagons as you see in the pictures. Glad I don’t have to travel in one of these. I guess the benefit was they didn’t require $4+/gallon for gas! Hmmm walking, pulling, wood wheels, no major springs or nice suspension for a smooth ride, oh and NO air conditioning. No problem I will pay the $4 for the gas! I will try to be a different type of pioneer but I'm still not sure of what to pioneer.