Category: U.S. Independence Day (Page 2 of 2)

Have a happy and grateful Independence Day!

I’m vacationing in Montana, where I’m looking forward to enjoying my first ever trip to a rodeo — complete with 4th of July fireworks!

Happy Birthday, old friend. And thank you for the life you’ve made possible.

Cross the fearsome ocean,
brave the rolling seas
Show me to the Frontier,
where Men can scarcely be.

Leave me all the Risks
that go with being Free.
I’ll gladly take the lot,
as the price of Liberty.

This 4th of July weekend has found me busy working hard, but by the same token happily working away at something that I love dearly and am expending the time and effort on of my own free will. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Today’s a day for celebration though, and I’ll be putting the work aside for a bit to enjoy some BBQ and fireworks.

As I penned in my journal a couple of years ago:

Give me all the risks
that go with being free.
I’ll gladly take the lot
as the price of liberty.

Happy Birthday, Old Friend. And Thank You for the life I feel so fortunate to get to live.

I’m making a slightly early Independence Day post, since I don’t know whether I’ll be able to get to a computer on the 4th.

I’ll remember 2005 as the year I first had the pleasure of hearing Madeleine Peyroux sing “Heaven to Me”, which caught me by surprise and moved me to tears of joyful recognition. It expresses with quiet grace what’s in my heart on this occasion, and every day:

When I hear them say, there’s better livin’
Let them go their way, to that new livin’
I won’t ever stray
‘Cause this is Heaven, to me

‘Long as freedom grows, I want to seek it
If it’s “Yes” or “No”, it’s me who’ll speak it
‘Cause the Lord, he knows
That this is Heaven, to me

If you’ve got your hands, and got your feet
to sing your song all through the street
You’ll raise your head when the day is done,
shout your thanks up to the Sun

So when I hear them say there’s better livin’
Let them go their way, to that new livin’
I won’t ever stray, ‘cause this is Heaven, to me
‘Cause this is Heaven, to me…

Happy Birthday, America. Thank you for my life and for my freedom, and for all the wonderful things that they have made possible.

And last but not least, heartfelt thanks beyond the power of my words to express, to those past and present who have risked all, and in some cases sacrificed all, that we might live the lives of free men and women. May we be worthy of all that they have given up for us.