Aah!

/

The boys' first day was smashing in every way. They love their teachers, were thrilled to be back, loved seeing friends, gobbled lunch (Oliver said, "that kale is SOOOOOO good, and I ate the biggest bowl of cantaloupe ever.") and just seemed all-around happy. Amen, in'shallah, mazel tov, auguri, grazie, etc. I realized today, too, just how much I've missed all my own friends at school, other parents, teachers and administrators alike. It was great to see all their faces and to catch up a bit. After school a big bunch of us went for frozen yogurt, and then I took the boys to purchase a new book each. Jack opted for a National Geographic about snakes while Oliver dove headfirst for Make-Believe Bride, a story about Ariel pining so seriously for Prince Eric that she fake-marries the statue of him that sunk to the bottom of the sea. Conveniently right into a secret grotto that she loves to visit and store random people things in. Good god almighty, people, this book is the pits. I couldn't care less about the princess subject matter, but there is a real difference in quality within that genre.

T is now at his annual (why? WHY?) fantasy football draft, so I've opened a lovely bottle of Pinot and am kicking back. What.to.do.for.dinner. Hmm!

Lastly, a few vacuous thoughts for your amusement:

  • Diana Nyad: cool though intensity kinda scary, and that's coming from a pretty-intensely goal-oriented gal
  • Miley Cyrus: not even a good dancer, and those shoes sucked
  • John McCain: when will he just shut up and go home?
  • online news channels that give you a video-only option make me mad; I just want to read the damn information
  • Dennis Rodman going to N.Korea again? why? WTF?

The March on Washington, 50 years later: The Fierce Urgency of Now

/

Fifty years ago tomorrow will mark a half-century since the historic 1963 March on Washington. One of the largest rallies of its kind, civil rights leaders and supporters, Blacks, Whites, women, men and children joined forces to demand equal civil rights and the end of Jim Crow. It was at this storied event, 100 years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, that Dr. King gave his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. If you've never listened to it, click this link and take some time to: you will be moved. And you'll be smarter. ;) What a voice! What a speech! "all men... would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked insufficient funds. But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt."

And the Washington Post has put together a great slide show from '63 as well as a space for memories from those who were there. Look at and read some of those if you can. They're remarkable and inspiring.