Highlights of my Labor Day weekend

• The colorful mountain scenery that greeted me when I turned onto Elk Ridge Drive.
• The epic thunderstorm at 5:30 a.m.
• Seeing more than three stars at night.
• Listening to the crickets.
• Eating food off a stick.
• Home-grown raspberries, tomatoes, and corn.
• The music that plays when you pop in the first Fellowship of the Ring disc.
• A few rousing rounds of Mad Gab.
• The free onion we got with our shakes.
• Watching the neighbor across the street play football with his son and grandkids on his front lawn.
• Chocolate cake donuts.