Today is the first day of the "four day", which is (to me) a completely incomprehensible event in which, for four days running, little kids walk either 3, 5, or 10 kilometers. At the end of it they get a medal.
Douwe says it has something to do with soldiers. I gather that it is in some way related to an event called The Four Day which takes place every July in another town called Nijmegen. That one did evidently start as a primarily military exercise, in 1909. How it got here (well on foot obviously) and why it is now in May (because July is hot?) and why it is here and now a children's event are not terribly clear.
That I do not understand it does not in any way prevent me from doing it.
Yes, in fact Daan managed to walk 3 kilometers (that's just under 2 miles) this evening. And he says he is doing it all four days, he wants his medal. No one has apparently told him that you get the medal just for giving it a shot at his age.
Around a mile and a half we started dropping behind -- a competitive little cuss is Daan, he hates that -- so I heard him talking to himself. He was saying, "You have to keep going. That's how you win. You just keep going". That was shortly before this picture was made, as you see we are nearly the last ones in to finish. But we did finish, which was the point.
We have been reading a version of the tortoise and the hare recently, apparently it made an impression.
2 comments:
I am so proud of your boys!!! Especially Daan..walking nearly 2 miles at his age. The boys will certainly be healthier living in Europe with so much walking and bike riding in their lives.
It looks like you all are having a good time together.
I am so excited to get the dates for your arrival and that you are staying a whole month (Sharon is probably saying 'is that all' but I am grateful for any time you can spend with us). I was kind of worried you might have a hard time getting away because of Nel's illness and all.
Post a Comment