The Flag Flies Low

Untitled

“Mommy, why is the flag so low,” she asked from the backseat. We were on our way to daycare and it had been a harried morning. I was flustered and confused, and at first, I didn’t know what she was asking.

“The flag, mommy, the American flag on that building. It’s really low.”

Sure enough, the office building on the side of the road had an American flag hanging at half mast. I’m sad to say it took me a moment to figure out exactly why. And then I remembered Colorado.

I haven’t written about the tragedy here or on social media, but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t affected me. I haven’t wanted to trivialize it with a half-assed tweet or Facebook prayer. I, like most people, have been to a midnight movie showing. I’m not a huge Batman fan (I could never really get into the first movie after Heath Ledger died…it was just too sad for me to watch), so I’ve never been to one of their openings, but I’ve been to a Harry Potter film or two where it was pitch dark outside and people were dressed up in costumes. What happened in Colorado could have easily happened at one of those premieres where I sat in the dark, wanting to be transported to another time.

Even though I was sad and angry, I decided not to write about it online. I didn’t click on links to news stories and I didn’t watch clips on cable channels. Mostly because I knew the facts and I didn’t want to watch it played out over and over and over until it became entertainment instead of horror. We have a strict rule against cable news in our home (I cannot imagine that vitriol being spewed out at my children every day. Yesterday at the gym the TV in front of me was tuned to Shepherd Smith who transitioned easily and sickeningly from the shooting in Colorado to the Penn State ruling to who was going to be judging the next season of American Idol. News? Really? Makes me sick. And this doesn’t just apply to Fox News, I’m a disliker of all the cable “news” channels, including MSNBC and CNN. Blech.) so there was not really a way for Lulu to learn about this horrible event.

But there it was. The flag. I didn’t want to lie to her. I couldn’t lie to her. So I told her the truth. I told her that when something sad happens in our country we fly the flag low as a sign of support. I told her something really sad had happened last week and people were hurt and killed.

“Mommy, people die sometimes. That’s part of life.”

“Yes, honey, but these people were innocent and were killed by a man who had a gun, so the country is sad.”

“Why did he kill them?”

“I don’t know. Nobody knows. Some people think he is sick in his brain and some people think he’s just a bad person, but we don’t know yet.”

“Where did he kill them?”

We talked about how it happened in Colorado and she asked if it was near her friends or family. I told her it was close, but they were okay. She was quiet for a minute.

“Mommy, sometimes when I hear sad things, I want to cry.”

“Me too, baby.”

And then she turned to her brother and started reading him a book. She didn’t mention Colorado again. I have no idea if I said the right thing or the wrong one. I have no idea what will stick with her and what she’ll forget.

I mean, how do you explain the unexplainable?

Just Dance. Seriously.

dance

Whenever I find myself feeling sulky and mopey, a good song can switch up my entire attitude. Lately I’ve been playing a long rotation of songs from a playlist I call, “Over it. Let’s dance.” It’s Monday, so I figured many of you might be feeling a bit mopey too.

I’m over it.

You too? Great. Let’s dance.

Here are my top five tracks for getting out of a funk.


5. Hate to See You Like This – Fountains of Wayne


4. Warrior – Mark Foster, Kimbra and A-Trak


3. F*cking Boyfriend – The Bird and the Bee (Explicit)


2. You Be Killin Em – Fabolous


1. Whatever We Want – Chiddy Bang (Explicit)

The End. Let’s dance.

Happy Weekend!

Hooray, it’s finally Friday! Did this week fly by for you? Because I could swear it’s still Wednesday in my brain. We are headed to the lake today for a fun weekend of fishing, swimming and generally trying to stay cool in the expected 106 degree heat. My other main goal will be keeping the baby (who does not have any fear and will dive head first in to any body of water) from killing himself. Fingers crossed!

happy_weekend_july20

Here are some links that got me thinking and laughing this week:

– Have you all heard of WIGS? It’s a channel on YouTube that is producing and releasing high quality dramatic shows via the web. Some people are saying it’s what will replace the now dying genre of soap operas (RIP AMC). I don’t know about that, but I’ve watched a few of the series and there are definitely some big stars participating. So far my favorite is “Christine” starring America Ferrara as a girl at a speed dating event.

– This self-written obituary by a man who knew he would die soon is charming, funny and poignant. He confesses to misdeeds as a teenager and apologizes to his wife for smoking (which gave him the throat cancer that he died from). Really lovely.

– The BBC wrote a feature on Kansas City’s renaissance and for once focused on our amazing culture and arts, instead of BBQ and cowboy boots. It’s a great read! (Note: I love BBQ and cowboy boots, don’t get me wrong, but it was nice to be called out for all of the other parts of our incredible city for a change!)

– I’m obsessed with this photo shoot of Keith Richards and his family. This is what I picture when I imagine my future…well, without the formerly drugged out rockstar.

———————————————————————–

Last weekend was one of the first ones in a while where we were all home in Kansas City AND Trent was able to stay away from work all weekend long. It was glorious! And lazy! Lazy gloriousness! We ended up going down to the Nelson-Atkins Museum where they were doing this cool installation creating a super huge picnic blanket. It was definitely a bit hot to be out there, but we had a little picnic in the shade and ran around for a bit anyway. We’re hoping to take the kids down for a real weekend visit before the end of the summer, since it’s one of our favorite places in the city (you can see more posts from previous trips in 2004 and 2011). Most of our Instagram pics from this week are from our afternoon at the Nelson, although there is some other fun stuff sprinkled in as well. If you’re on Instagram, remember you can find me @crazy_bananas.

UntitledUntitled

UntitledUntitled

UntitledUntitled

UntitledUntitled

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...