Let’s Roll

 
Today, September 11, 2011, marks the ten-year anniversary of the worst terrorist attacks perpetrated on American soil in our nation’s history. A solemn day and a day of remembrance, but above all, a day of determination and strength. The strength of the American people, and I’m proud to be an American rat.
 
Today is a day to remember the fallen, to recognize the first responders, to respect those whose loved ones were lost or whose bodies were mangled thanks to a cowardly terrible act, and today is also a day to acknowledge that each American, no matter what our geographic location, was personally and directly affected by what took place ten years ago this morning. Today is a day to remember that it is indeed about the people in New York and Washington, and it is also about us. Us as individuals and as a nation; us as unwavering.
  

Out of the ashes that blanketed the New York City skyline and out of the destructive fires of the Pentagon has risen a new people, tough and tenacious. From that day, each of us has marked the events of our lives as “before 9/11” vs. “after 9/11,” and though in many historically defining moments it’s appropriate to say that a “new generation” was formed after such and such had taken place, the truth is that all of us, regardless of age, became a new generation that day. And it is good.
 
With the fire of our American forebears passed down to us through the centuries and with the bonds formed by now our own defining marks, we stand hand-in-hand and paw-in-paw and say or squeak with resolve – to ourselves and to the world – that we will not back down and we will never give up. So in the words of United Airlines Flight 93 passenger Todd Beamer, who led others in a rush to thwart the plans of terrorists bound for D.C. on that fateful September day, we declare as one nation with one accord, “Let’s roll.”
 
Keepin’ it squeak,
Bob

Ratlaxation

 
Ah, Labor Day: a time when all of us rest from our work, maybe take in a barbeque or two, and celebrate the unofficial end of summer with a party by the pool. My employees and I at Sludge-Be-Gone, the best sewer-sucking company in Ratlanta, are too taking a restful day off today … which seems quite appropriate, as Tropical Storm Lee is dumping no small amount of rain on the city and flushing out our business. (Thankfully a recent dry spell saw a pickup in activity, and I was able to transfer my second job as line cook at a local Chinese restaurant to full-time dumpster cleaning in a new branch of Sludge-Be-Gone services. So from now on even when rain showers wash the sewers out for us, we’ll still be living high on the hog – no matter how flea-infested it may be!)
 
This Labor Day has been a family day for me, and earlier today my wife, Bobette, and I took our pups on a picnic outing to a local park. The little ones had a great time scampering about and playing “Who stole the cheese?” while Bobette and I contented ourselves with holding each other’s paws in a brief respite from our parental duties. (We were also thankful that the human family grilling hot dogs beside us wasn’t interested in adding rat meat to their menu.) Then about mid-day TS Lee decided to make his presence known in earnest, so hey – instant pool party! (It was a great pawportunity for me to practice my ratty paddle!)
 
We’re back all dry and toasty in our hovel now, having contented ourselves with all three Labor Day traditions – including the uber-important post-picnic rat nap (had to get that “rest” part in somewhere). And with Lee expected to dump more rain on Ratlanta over the next few days, I might very well decide to extend my holiday just a little bit longer, and continue that rat nap some more.
 
Keepin’ it squeak,
Bob