That's what Iz just said at our tea time, eating the special black and white cookies that we made yesterday. She then said, "We should pray for him because a long time ago, when Auntie Susan was a baby, a bad person shot him and killed him. But he should be celebrating his birthday so we should pray that he gets better." Well, not quite . . .
I've intended to get my act together to make Martin Luther King Jr. Day a part of our family celebrations since A started Kindergarten, so I'm pleased that I finally extended the bit of energy to make it happen. I wasn't so happy with the recipe I chose, remembering I really am not a fan of sugar-type cookies and glazed icing, even with some chocolate in the mix. They didn't end up remotely similar to the pretty cookies on the blog where I'd got the recipe and . . . they were way more labour intensive then I'd prefer! Next year we'll opt for black and white sheet cake or something far easier. But I had one happy kid taking a tray of cookies to school to share this morning along with the fantastic book: Martin's Big Words by Doreen Rappaport. If you have about 10 minutes to spare, there's a wonderful reading of the book here on YouTube. So inspiring. I understand why he's one of S's heroes. He should be. . .
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| The page above is taken from another wonderful book: I AM A MAN: Ode to Martin Luther King Jr. by Eve Merriam |
We're enjoying a quiet, bright day inside with Ai's company. I couldn't start the van to get him to school this morning and didn't feel like hauling him there and back on the sled. At -30 with a strong windchill, I get why the van refused to budge . . . though it doesn't help that the block heater cord got yanked off last week and its been too cold for S to attach the replacement part! The birds have been on my back deck chirping for food, looking so cute with their feathers plumped. Out of bird seed, I put out organic quinoa, not sure what else I have in my pantry which might work since they've eaten all my millet! It seems a little extravagant, now that I know North American's demand for the protein-rich grain has hiked up prices so much that Bolivians, who have had it as their staple food for thousands of years, can no longer afford to buy it. Too bad we finally learned to like it, as I'm guessing it'll be the last bag I purchase (unless I figure out a more local source)! It's hard to comprehend how I'm unknowingly so complicit in much of the world's injustice. I know not buying a bag of quinoa won't change the world but as Gandhi, one of MLK's inspirations, once said, "You must be the change you want to see in the world." And . . . "The difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing would suffice to solve most of the world's problems." I think on the next shut-in day, I'll have to peruse my husband's book shelf a bit and be inspired by a few more of these amazing humans. Right now, it's time to get that laundry pile under control though I'll think about "King Martin" and why he deserves such a title.
2 comments:
I really enjoyed this post, Ann. I'm so glad the kids get to do these significant things, like remembering King Martin, with you. They are learning alot and having fun at the same time. Mom
Glad you enjoyed, Mom. I'll never win a Mom award for my cakes or meals - in fact, this is the first food photo I've ever posted and it's really rather embarrassing! But in the social justice department we're trying to take some baby steps and the kids are pretty good sports about it. I was happy that A's teacher was super happy with the treats and read the book to the class, leading to a good discussion on human rights. Glad she didn't think we were imposing . . .
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