not cool

i was at michael's craft store last night, picking up a few items.

while roaming the aisles i saw a display on california missions. not because michael's has turned into a history buff store, rather it was regarding the infamous 4th grade project that all california school kids must go through. you know the one where you pick a california mission and have to re-create it at home, then proudly (or not so proudly) display it at school? any ca school kids with me on this one?

i remember my project.

mission san jose.

i remember spray painting the corrugated cardboard for a tile like effect on the roof. i thought it was sweet.

painting cardboard white for the walls, trying to find green for the grass and bushes.

toothpicks, sugar cubes, it was all game.

completely frustrating but an important rite of passage.

last night i could not believe my eyes.

a company called Missions of California has cornered the market and ruined all the fun. they sell kits for each mission so all you have to do is assemble. oh, don't forget the glue. yeah, like that's hard. once the mission is assembled, you can buy all the accessories your heart can handle. here is a sampling:

bells
wood barrels
cannons
a graveyard
grass mat
monk with dove
monk with child
wishing well
wheelbarrow
corn stalks
oh, and lest we not make this culturally correct, you can buy your very own male or female indian. well, at least you have to pay for them now.

i'm sure the disgusted look on my face showed my true emotions. i think i even scoffed.

besides the fact that it hands the project to the child, it's pretty lame how the whole mission concept has been commercialized and you can buy statues of indian slaves to decorate your project.

i mean, is someone going to come up with a plantation kit where you can buy a female slave with a baby strapped to her back?

this company is brilliant. i'm sure they're making quite a buck churning these out. they should hook up with wal-mart, then it would be a real treat.

ok, i'm off the soap box. maybe that was a little heavy for a friday morning, but i had to get it off my chest.

my child will be making their mission from scratch!