City of Brotherly Love

Newcomer Blimey was trying his best to get used to the American way of living, but the progress was going slowly.  He pondered over many of the things he saw that his Catball brothers seemed to enjoy from the bottom of their catball hearts, things that just didn't make much sense to his small orange British self.  When they all piled around the television to watch helmeted titans molest each other on Sunday, he felt left out.  "This is not football--they do not use their feet, and that is not a ball," he thought out loud, "this should be called handegg."

"This is horrible," thought Blimey.  "They would never allow this at a Hull City game."

While the other brothers tried to explain the strategy of the game and make sense of what a Gronk is, the big guy and his cute wife felt concerned about their newest responsibility's integration into American society.  "It is our responsibility to help Blimey feel comfortable and happy in his new home," the big guy said.  "I suggest we take part in a great American institution with him!"

His cute wife asked, "But we are already watching football, and later there will be chicken pie for dinner.  What could be more American than that?"

"A road trip!"

The humans plotted and planned and schemed for the week, and gradually introduced Blimey to the adventure satchel.  Finally, early one Saturday morning, they woke up super-early and hopped in the big red wagon.

Finally, after many many hours, they arrived.  Blimey's eyes sparkled.  "Wow, a big new bed!  U-S-A!  U-S-A!"  He bounced and rolled and stretched out as catballs are wont to do.

The humans unloaded their goods, and smiled as they looked at the spectacle.  When they were done, the cute wife grabbed the adventure satchel and held it open, saying, "Believe it or not, Blimey, there is even more to see!  Let's go!"

They hopped in the car again and drove into a big city.  Blimey's little pink catball  nose was pressed against the window glass and his green eyes soaked in the new and interesting and American place.  They got out of the car and hit the streets and came upon a beautiful brick palacey place.

"This is where the rules for America were written," the cute wife explained.  It looked rather petite for such an important place, Blimey thought, and he found this rather charming. 

"This is the Liberty Bell," said the big guy.  Blimey was puzzled about why the bell had legs.  "It must certainly enjoy its liberty," he thought.

"This is Betsy Ross' house," they continued.  "She was the person who came up with the idea for the American flag."  Blimey concluded that anyone who liked stripes like he did was alright by him.

After roaming around the history for a long while, the humans started feeling peckish, and the weather alternated between drizzlations and full-on rain ("Reminds me of home," Blimey thought fondly).  They ducked into a warm-looking, bright, delicious-smelling place.  There was a giant long table in the middle of the room with a forever number of chairs around it, which delighted the humans to no end.  They sat down at it and had coffees and breads with delicious jams and something called speculoos (which they are obsessed with finding again) while other humans sat at the table and chatted.  Blimey hopped out of the adventure satchel and felt right at home amongst the harvesty things.  Other humans saw him and smiled, and one kind woman even picked him up and gave him a squeeze!

Le Pain Quotidien is Catball-approved.

After a pleasing luncheon, the humans continued their meander through the quaint old part of the city, when they happened upon a treat parlor.  The mustachioed man behind the counter supported the choice of roasted corn ice cream, calling it "the taste of Minnesota in autumn."  Blimey thought that Garrison Keillor would heartily approve of the endorsement. 

The Franklin Fountain is Catball-approved!

Practically next door to the treat factory was ANOTHER treat factory that shared the first treat factory's sense of historical whimsy. 

The Shane Confectionery is Catball-approved!

After enjoying treats one place then buying more treats for later the other place, the intrepid trio continued to discover the old part of the city.  They came upon a remarkable, adorable strip of homes, Elfreth's Alley, that were cute enough to be consumed.  "I would not mind being an alley cat in this alley," Blimey said.

"Competition!"

As they made their way out of the old part of the city, they happened upon a whimsical thing.

The cute wife said it was time to go to another part of the city, Germantown, to go to an arts-and-craftsy thing she wanted to attend.  Germantown seemed like a strange place to learn about America to Blimey, but he did not question her.  Sadly, the threat of rain cancelled the art, so they found shelter. 

Iron Hill Brewery is Catball-approved!

After their frosty beverages, the guy and the wife said it was time to go get fancy!  They went back to their hotel room and put on upgraded duds, then drove back into the city center.  "You will like this place," the humans explained to Blimey, "there is plenty of fish for all to enjoy here."

Morimoto is Catball-approved!

The splendiferous meal came and went with plates upon plates of exotic and delectable things, the majority of which were definitely Iron Chef-worthy.  They went home and slept with happy bellies full of every delicious thing the city had to offer, it seemed.

Well, not everything.  Not yet, anyway.  As they piled into the big red wagon to drive back home...

Tony Luke's is Catball-approved!

As they made the long drive back home, Blimey digested information as he digested his roasted pork sandwich with sauteed broccoli rabe and sharp provolone.  "America.  America is quaint.  It is red-bricked.  It is honest and colorful.  It has fun and whimsy.  It has crafty people.  It has delicious things and pleasant places to be."

He looked out the window as the scenery whizzed by. 

"Not so bad, really."