Another One of Cody's Off-the-Cuff Interpretations

Earlier in the week, Don, Cody and I drove past a car wash on our way into town. Well, technically we drove past a lot of businesses, but the car wash stood out because there were several flags flapping in the wind. Most of the flags were American, but there also happened to be a Canadian flag as well as the flag of Mexico. I pointed it out to Don and said, "I wonder why that car wash is flying the Mexican and Canadian flags?"

Unexpectedly, from the backseat of the car, came Cody's impromptu rendition of the 'Pledge of Alligiance'. I quickly grabbed a pen and paper from the glove box and wrote down his words.

"I pledge allegiance to the flag of Cancun,
and to Mr. Hyatt for which we remember,
one Pine View High under Taco Bell,
indivisible, with Mexicans and equis for kids."

To make any sense of this (insert eye roll here), you need to know that Mr. Hyatt taught Cody's Spanish class at Pine View High School years ago. I think Cody's use of Cancun and Taco Bell speaks for itself. ;)

If you would like to read about an experience Cody had in Spanish class, click on  Como Se Dice "Don't Break My Routine" en Espanol?.

(FYI- I want my readers to know that I  have nothing against Mexico or Canada. It's just not everyday that their flags are seen flying amidst ours.)

My Thought Provoking Afternoon

It has been 10 years since September 11, 2001 and there is a feeling of reverence in the air. I intended to write an "11 Things" post, as I have on the 11th day of each month this year, but decided against it, knowing that anything I had to say would be insignificant in comparison to commemorating the anniversary of the attack on the Twin Towers.

This afternoon, I went to a special 9/11 Tribute that was part of a Documentary Film Festival. My daughter had an assignment for one of her college classes to attend,
interview students about their opinions and find out if any of them were directly affected by the attacks.

As we watched the films, 'Never Happen Here: The Whitehorse 9/11 Story' and 'Faith and Doubt at Ground Zero', I was glad that my daughter invited me to go with her. Both films were exceptionally thought provoking. 

Never Happen Here: The Whitehorse Story intrigued me the most. The film talked about Whitehorse, a remote town in Canada, and how their peace was shattered on 9/11, when a "hijacked" 747, escorted by U.S and Canadian fighter jets, was instructed to land there.

I'm sure it's because my husband works at an airport as a first responder and I am an employee at a public school, but as this town's emergency responders were called out, their schools evacuated and thousands of parents raced in panic to find their children, I felt an overwhelming sense of compassion for the people of this otherwise quiet community.

If given the opportunity, I would highly recommend that you watch both of these films.