We are coasting towards the end of the interminable Holiday Season and I am flagging, literally and figuratively.
First there was Country Day, already discussed.
Then came Flag Day. Considering Owen’s love of flags, we couldn’t let this one pass in its usual minimally celebrated manner. It was all in the decorating, of course, and the actual party consisted of a small gathering at our house that degenerated into a suitably American-style battle of kids and adults wielding heavy water weaponry such as Super-Soakers and hoses.
This week the holiday schedule peaks, with Canada Day (July 1) (thanks to Michelle in Berkeley for the heads-up on that one, although Owen has of course had the date firmly in his mind for months), the 4th of July, and, of course, North American Day.
Canada Day was celebrated earlier this week with the traditional feast of Canadian bacon and waffles with maple syrup, served on paper plates emblazoned with the Canadian flag. Special Note: All spills were also mopped up with Canadian flag napkins.
Up tomorrow, the joint celebration of the 4th of July and North America Day. Although the 4th has long been one of my very favorite holidays, Owen has refused to acknowledge solely his home country on this most American of holidays. He has thus proclaimed it to be “North American Day” and towards that end, has been busily cranking out Canadian, Mexican and Honduran flags using his patented paper and crayon technology and taping them to sticks to wave at our little Village’s uber-Patriotic 4th of July parade. I fear for my safety if forced to protect my little Internationalist from patriots who don’t see the humor in little kids waving homemade Honduran flags at a 4th of July parade. All part of a dad’s days work I suppose.
First there was Country Day, already discussed.
Then came Flag Day. Considering Owen’s love of flags, we couldn’t let this one pass in its usual minimally celebrated manner. It was all in the decorating, of course, and the actual party consisted of a small gathering at our house that degenerated into a suitably American-style battle of kids and adults wielding heavy water weaponry such as Super-Soakers and hoses.
This week the holiday schedule peaks, with Canada Day (July 1) (thanks to Michelle in Berkeley for the heads-up on that one, although Owen has of course had the date firmly in his mind for months), the 4th of July, and, of course, North American Day.
Canada Day was celebrated earlier this week with the traditional feast of Canadian bacon and waffles with maple syrup, served on paper plates emblazoned with the Canadian flag. Special Note: All spills were also mopped up with Canadian flag napkins.
Up tomorrow, the joint celebration of the 4th of July and North America Day. Although the 4th has long been one of my very favorite holidays, Owen has refused to acknowledge solely his home country on this most American of holidays. He has thus proclaimed it to be “North American Day” and towards that end, has been busily cranking out Canadian, Mexican and Honduran flags using his patented paper and crayon technology and taping them to sticks to wave at our little Village’s uber-Patriotic 4th of July parade. I fear for my safety if forced to protect my little Internationalist from patriots who don’t see the humor in little kids waving homemade Honduran flags at a 4th of July parade. All part of a dad’s days work I suppose.
A favorite 4th of July memory: Years ago, I was spending the summer studying in Tilburg, the Netherlands. Despite all the fun and adventure that went with that summer, I remember being a bit sad to be spending the 4th in a country where it passed unnoticed (and where the sun stubbornly refused to come out for weeks at a time). I recall being greatly cheered when one of the Dutch guys who lived on my dormitory floor but did not speak very good English approached me on the 4th, awkwardly shook my hand, and said “Congratulations on your independence.”
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