The Class Trip

I recently joined my son as a chaperone on his class field trip to Philadelphia. This was surprisingly my first real trip to Philly (aside from a quick business trip which doesn't count because I didn't see anything fun accept the Rocky steps - I did run them, though, so that's something).

I was impressed by the history of everything. Yep, there's the crack in the Liberty Bell. Look! The original inkwell to sign all the country's major important documents. Ooh, Betsy Ross' little house! And I knew Ben Franklin was kind of a big deal, but I learned so much more about him. He was REALLY a big deal. We threw some coins on his grave for good luck. I'm not sure why that's good luck, as the tour guide kept walking after she said it, but I threw coins anyway. Maybe it will inspire me to invent stuff or just help me attain prosperity. Or maybe it will help me acquire a sweet hair style like he had. The unique juxtaposition between severe balding and long flowing locks is something to desire.

Here are a couple of things I learned on the field trip:

1) I am only slightly more mature than the 5th graders I accompanied. When one pony-tailed male tour guide started speaking in a loud, monotonous voice that almost blasted us out of our small gathering room, I had to stifle a giggle just like the children. I then tried to look stern and scolding. It didn't work.

2) 10-year-old boys love the attention that breaking wind brings to them. The other moms and I did not appreciate that while we were trapped on the bus. Some of these kids may need to seek medical attention.

3) Philly cheesesteaks are delicious. I opted for no squirt cheese whizz, so I might have missed out on something.

4) When I'm walking around the city, I can't get Elton John's "Philadelphia Freedom" out of my head. It got annoying after seven hours.

5) After that much American History in one day, I almost expected the bus to be full of "USA, USA!" chants all the way back home. Instead, we watched "The Lego Movie." We did get lots of repetition of "Everything is Awesome" (the theme song from the movie, in case you were silly and missed this great flick). At least the kids don't sing "99 bottles of beer on the wall" anymore. Thank heavens for the small things.