Citizenship Ceremony

Today I was lucky enough to be invited to the United States citizenship ceremony of my next door neighbor/friend.  I think that I take for granted how lucky I was to be born in this country and I was completely humbled by the forty-four people from thirteen countries denouncing their citizenship from their home countries.  Some of these countries included: Ukraine, South Korea, Vietnam, Cuba, Mexico, Nigeria, and the Philippines. 
I got a little teary eyed at a few different points:
1.) listening to a room full of people sing The Star Spangled Banner in so many different accents
2.) being led in The Pledge of Allegiance by elementary school students
3.) knowing that some of these people worked for years for something I was given at birth
Sometimes I get a little cynical about the country I live in and this adventure today was exactly what I needed to remind me not to take certain things for granted.
I can vote.
I can speak my mind.
I can...I just can.
If you ever get the chance to attend one of these ceremonies, do it, and remember how blessed you really are if you are a United States citizen.  I forget sometimes for sure and I was glad for the reminder.  It's not perfect, but it is good.

Fall Break Flagstaff Fun

Alliteration totally intentional for the title!
It's been awhile since I posted to this blog, but school started and being a high school English teacher is an adventure that does not leave much time for adventures outside of the classroom or blog posts.  The first nine weeks flew by and I am enjoying a glorious week off from the teaching gig/adventure that I love so much, but do need an occasional break from to keep my sanity.

I decided to head up to Flagstaff for a few days of fun (sorry the F alliteration is not out of my system yet).  It's hard to explain, but somewhere between Camp Verde and Munds Park the air changes.  I think if I was blindfolded and told to say when the car moved from southern AZ to northern AZ I would be able to know based just on smell.  I promise if I was blindfolded I would let someone else do the driving!  Maybe it's the pine trees, the lack of pollution, or just a bit of magic that can only be found when headed home.  When I was younger, think elementary school, we would smell the pine trees.  We said that some smelled like chocolate, some like vanilla, or the extra special ones were strawberry.  It was a neapolitan treat for the nose.  Pine trees, or certain ice cream flavors, will always smell like home

See number one from the list below...the balloon man at the restaurant made us made us heart shaped flower balloons

Flagstaff Fall

Quick top ten list of the four days in Flagstaff (in no particular order):
1. getting to spend an evening with a good friend in Phoenix on the way up to Flagstaff
2. getting a haircut and manicure with my mom
3. seeing Gone Girl with my favorite sister-in-law
4. Scrabble with my brother
5. holding my nephew while playing tag with my niece
6. a family dinner at Mama Luisa's for my sister-in-law's birthday
7. the leaves changing and the crisp weather that comes with October
8. getting some much needed time with loved ones
9. and getting some much needed time sitting (read vegging out) in front of a television since I don't own a TV
10. finishing Run by Ann Patchett- a great book if anyone needs a book recommendation