Sing-Along

Last night we went to the West Texas Fair for dollar-ride night. The crowd wasn't too bad (only broke families go to the fair on a Monday night), the weather was GREAT, and a grand time was had by all. Of course, all that was shot as we tried to get in bed at a reasonable time while Riley and I discuss (argue) that yes, he can have a band-aid on that unbelievably small abrasion on his elbow but AFTER he has a shower so of course the weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth follow. All of this occured as Troy is out of town and on the other end of the phone trying to put everyone in a good frame of mind for bed. It's way too late for that. Finally, though, everyone seemed to have settled down enough for me to risk walking into bedrooms.

Riley was just getting his little mound of covers settled and said, "Help me finish this, Mom: 'From the lakes of Minnesota, to the hills of Tennessee, across the plains of Texas, from sea to shining sea. . .' What comes after that, Mom?"

I finished up for him, "From Detroit down to Houston, from New York to L.A., well there's pride in every American heart and it's time we stand and say. . . "

"Okay, I know the rest."

I tucked him in and left him singing "Proud to be an American" in the dark. Don't you think we all could stand a verse or two of that? As the utility crews are rolling into New Orleans and churches continue to be the best hope for providing for needs in Louisiana and Mississippi, why don't you join me in the chorus:

And I’m proud to be and American,
Where at least I know I’m free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
Who gave that right to me.
And I gladly stand up, next to you
and defend her still today.
Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA!!

Editor's note: This blog entry dedicated to Tony Timms, Searcy, AR.