Well, fake Hurricane Ida breezed through. And I got rid of one child--I mean one of my angels went back to school today (sniff.) The other one is home in honor of Veterans' Day. This day, while clearly only a token of appreciation to everyone who serves in the military, is a mystery to me.
First, it is mispunctuated to the point of ridicule. Veterans' Day=day to honor all veterans. Veteran's Day=day to honor one veteran. The entire universe needs a refresher on the use of the apostrophe, and how a) to use it with plural/singular agreement and b) it has nothing AT ALL to do with plurals.
Second, veterans everywhere have most often transitioned to non-military jobs. They are doctors, lawyers, firefighters, engineers, professionals and non professionals alike. MOST OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE WORKING TODAY. A few veterans who went into the Postal Service are stoked, and those who became bankers are good, but the rest of them are WORKING. What the hell kind of holiday is that? S is not in school (he's too young to even enlist, although I have considered compulsory service in a military academy). How does sitting at home and watching cartoons today honor veterans? M is working, and many of his non-traditional students have served in the armed forces. They're going to school.
Don't get me wrong. I am all about honoring veterans. But is canceling school and offering free breakfast at restaurant chains what we had in mind?
Before I digress into a totally political tirade (of which most would agree, so why preach to the choir?) let me just say, I would like to honor veterans by sending BOTH of my children to school. Watching a giant-headed octopus trying to catch a firefly with his tremendously stumpy and disproportionate arms really isn't a salute to the ultimate sacrifice. (Translation for non-parents: S is watching Oswald, an "educational" cartoon voiced by Fred Savage.)
Unless today is ALSO International Parents' Day. Which of course, would never be celebrated by allowing children home from school. Instead, it would involve hordes of babysitters in everyone's homes, chauffering services, launderers and work substitutes, and lots and lots of martinis. Which, come to think of it would be a nice way to let vets take the day off, too.
Don your poppies and your yellow ribbons, and hug a veteran today.
Even if you have your kids in tow.
