Happy 4th of July to all.

While you might not be reading this until the 5th (certainly you're checking the blog at least every OTHER day), I would like to proudly proclaim my affinity for the Good Ol' USA. Being temporarily removed from our own country, and living on the transient surface of so many others, I have an even greater appreciation of what makes America "America". Kind of sappy, I know. Just wait til I hit the sauce later tonight if you want the total syrupy version.

Seriously, though, seeing how so many people, and so many lands, go about their daily business, with whatever they might have grossly calling attention to everything they don't have, really drives home how rich the fabric of our country has become. The amount of good, hard work that has created our culture is truly astounding. Considering that these things don't happen naturally nor easily, it's easy to be a Proud American.

Sophie's social studies course yesterday (we started the new school year a few days ago) focused on Francis Scott Key's poem, "The Star Spangled Banner", which was later set to a melody to become our national anthem. Reading the history of the battle for Fort McHenry, and understanding the drama and emotion that inspired Key to write his famous words, I will never take this national symbolism, nor any other, lightly again. Too much is at stake, both then and now.

Happy Birthday, America.
The land of the Free, the home of the Brave.