My son wanted to tell me about a gag from an Animaniacs cartoon.
"And there was this poster on the wall, and he was pointing — a poster of — you know — um — you know Uncle Tom, mom?"
Me, nonplussed: "Uh — like the book Uncle Tom's Cabin?"
"No, not a book — you know — the symbol of the United States? Of the Army and stuff?"
I stared a moment before it connected.
"That's Uncle Sam."
"Oh, yeah. Well, anyway, there was this poster on the wall –"
"U for Uncle. S for Sam."
"Oh yeah." Sheepishly. "I remember now."
"Please try not to forget it."