The 4th of July

Not sure why the post I thought was here was not....

Doesn't matter because I had more to say anyway. We had a great time at Mandy and Scott's

and it was great to see everyone and be with family. On the way home, while Suzy was sleeping, I heard a song written by John Mitchum and performed by John Wayne called 'America, Why I Love Her'. The lyrics ask you if you have seen different places all over the country. There are places I have seen and many more I would like to see. The world is definitely worth seeing but I don't think many realize just how beautiful our own country is. Not to mention how fortunate we are to live in a society where we are free to live and have unparalleled opportunities. I understand that with the politics of today it's hard to remember that sometimes. So turn off the news and put down the paper, or blogs, or rss news feeds and just enjoy

Below are the lyrics. I have pictures of most of the places I have seen and it looks like I need to do some traveling.....

You ask me why I love her? Well, give me time, and I'll explain...

Have you seen a Kansas sunset or an Arizona rain? Suzy and I went to Arizona in 2005 - we did see it rain, i just don't have a picture.

Have you drifted on a bayou down Louisiana way? You know the

re are a lot of pictures from this area - this one is from a duck hunting trip that I took with Patrick and Suzy's Dad

Have you watched the cold fog drifting over San Francisco Bay?

Have you heard a Bobwhite calling in the Carolina pines? I have been to the Carolina's many times and I'm sure I've heard a Bobwhite (Quail)

Or heard the bellow of a diesel in the Appalachia mines?

Does the call of Niagara thrill you when you hear her waters roar?

Do you look with awe and wonder at a Massachusetts shore...I've been to Massachusetts but not to the shore - I don't have any digital pictures.

Where men who braved a hard new world, first stepped on Plymouth Rock?

And do you think of them when you stroll along a New York City dock?

Have you seen a snowflake drifting in the Rockies...way up high? These are the Rockies in Utah, I couldn't believe how beautiful these mountains were without snow.

Have you seen the sun come blazing down from a bright Nevada sky? I was in Las Vegas for a sales meeting and Suzy came out for the weekend. The city is exciting but outside the city is

beautiful.

Do you hail to the Columbia as she rushes to the sea...

Or bow your head at Gettysburg...in our struggle to be free?

Have you seen the mighty Tetons? ...Have you watched an eagle soar?

Have you seen the Mississippi roll along Missouri's shore?I have seen it and do often, I just can't find a picture right now.

Have you felt a chill at Michigan, when on a winters day,

Her waters rage along the shore in a thunderous display?

Does the word "Aloha"... make you warm?

Do you stare in disbelief When you see the surf come roaring in at Waimea reef?

From Alaska's gold to the Everglades...from the Rio Grande to Maine... Never seen the Rio but I have Maine and it's spectacular.

My heart cries out... my pulse runs fast at the might of her domain.

You ask me why I love her?... I've a million reasons why.

My beautiful America... beneath Gods' wide, wide sky.