I went out to buy some white-out, and ended up watching a good bit of the Veteran's Day parade. As a near-pacifist, I'm opposed to war in almost all cases, so flag-waving and cheering the military make me a bit uncomfortable. However, today didn't feel like that. I respect the people who serve, and who served in the past - it's hardly their fault when the leadership of our country makes horrible decisions and sends them into places where I feel we shouldn't be. I was a bit startled by the huge booming sounds that one of the parade units was setting off. Hello, flashbacks? Seems like an odd thing to have in a Veteran's Day parade. Also, the young reservist recruits - dressed ominously in black - had me nearly in tears. Just FYI. Also also, marching bands and baton twirlers are fun, and wear funny hats.
So, bought some Pittsburghy doodads from a street vendor, clapped a lot, said "Thank you!" to some soldiers, and chatted with a few random people about politics and the weather. Sunshine makes any parade better, even when, because of tall downtown buildings, it's only available in a few patches.
Ooh, and I also ran into a gaggle of toddlers, whose adult leader gave me contact info for Brightside Academy, their school. So, another opportunity for teaching Chinese to short people, which I may pursue if I decide to stick around The 'Burgh for a bit longer... as I am sorely tempted to do. New part-time job starts this week, at this place, while the old part-time job, at this place, continues. And I do have a twice-a-week Chinese lesson with a very small girl, if that counts as a third part-time job. Hopefully the new job will not be crazy amounts of hours, as that would probably result in me getting the flu or something. I am not the strongest, healthiest girl on the block. Curse you, anemia!
How did I start out this post? Veteran's Day. Happy (belated) Veteran's Day to all our troops and veterans. Take care of yourselves. It's rough out there, even in the sunshine.
