Maybe it was my lack of being surrounded by my kids and grandkids, or maybe it was the surroundings of all of the history. It was hot, we couldn't find a place to stand...they started going off...then suddenly it was the grand finale....all of the sudden... I was overwhelmed with emotion. You know I realize that I get older the tears are easier to find. Emotion is always so close. A hug from one of my grandbabies, something sweet and unexpected from one of my wonderful children...blessings, all blessings! I am so blessed. Blessed to be married to a wonderful man for 32 years...blessed to be surrounded by supportive friends, blessed to live in the most wonderful country on the face of this earth, blessed to be on my way to heaven, blessed to see beauty each day! I see everything differently with age. I appreciate people, acts of kindness, quiet moments with God, yesterday I appreciate beauty. Beauty of fireworks layered on each other and patriotism ...a filling of wonder and awe filled me. For that moment at first I felt embarrased to look around. I mean, seriously Denise, crying....tears just flowing as those starburst of color boomed away. Then I realized there was nothing to be ashamed of.....I was overwhelmed at all the possibilities that other were not afforded. The ones that died in the beginnings of this country...the ones who gave freely their lives on foreign battlefields....the ones that continue to go because their country says so... I was overwhelmed with love, gratitude and beauty. Please know this..I take nothing for granted. I will not allow any vacation to take me away from my kids on the 4th of July again, but it was a moment of sweet and tender victory of my soul. I've never been a person without words. I always have an opinion or a thought....I rarely have speechless moments. I could hear in the distant burst of color these words pinned from a song.
God bless America land that I love,
Stand beside her and guide her,
Through the night with the light from above.
From the mountains to the praries to the oceans white with foam,
God Bless American my home sweet home.
Ok...I'm a sop....I love this country. My dad taught me that, my school teachers taught me that, my church taught me that....! Let's continue in the traditions of our father's.
