Youth Day, and Ataturk's birthday

May 19th is a holiday in Turkey.  Technically, it's called Commemoration of Ataturk, Youth and Sports Day - like an 8th grade paragraph, two seemingly unrelated topics in the same sentence.

It is the day Ataturk landed in Samsun.  

Oh, that day.

Let me put it this way - it's Lexington and Concord.  Ataturk left Istanbul with the commission to disband the Ottoman Army in agreement with a treaty.  Instead, when he landed in Samsun on May 19th,  he began the Turkish National Movement (the title given to encompass all that follows) - and in Ataturk's mind - this is the day that the war for Turkish Independence began.  Ataturk though this date should be remembered, and so he dedicated this date to Turkey's youth - and thus Youth and Sports Day was born.  Ataturk also referred to this date as the day he was born, and later, the holiday was dedicated to celebrate Ataturk as well.  Thus the comma.  

Our school always holds ceremonies (as do all school around the country), and they are filled with song, dance, poetry, and readings.  I can't understand most of it .. but I always enjoy it - the combination of the arts.  Especially music and dance - it always moves my soul.  I wanted to play cello today, sing in the choir, to hold my chin out and do a pirouette, and be filled with the grace (and flexibility) of an athlete.  (Big sigh).

Oh well.  I have this:

I'm 13 weeks old!

And this:

siblings!

I will do music again for them.  And sports.  Strength and beauty for them.

LOVE