Kevin's Watch

I arrived in America only 2 days ago after 3 years in Africa. Yesterday morning, feeling refreshed from jet lag, I took a walk around the block. You have to understand that where I live, as soon as I step outside my bedroom I am a spectacle (being white). And everywhere you go there are concrete walls topped with razor wire or broken glass. So to stroll along quiet streets-- I wanted to run and skip and cartwheel across the open lawns and the sweet green grass. I stopped to look at a flower garden in one front yard and literally burst into tears at its beauty. I was even rejoiced to see a police car pull over a car for speeding, knowing that the police here are my friends, not my enemies. God bless America!!! It is so great to be here! Happy July 4!!!

deer of the dawn wrote:I arrived in America only 2 days ago after 3 years in Africa. Yesterday morning, feeling refreshed from jet lag, I took a walk around the block. You have to understand that where I live, as soon as I step outside my bedroom I am a spectacle (being white). And everywhere you go there are concrete walls topped with razor wire or broken glass. So to stroll along quiet streets-- I wanted to run and skip and cartwheel across the open lawns and the sweet green grass. I stopped to look at a flower garden in one front yard and literally burst into tears at its beauty. I was even rejoiced to see a police car pull over a car for speeding, knowing that the police here are my friends, not my enemies. God bless America!!! It is so great to be here! Happy July 4!!!

To use an English phrase that I hate, but in it's genuine meaning instead of its usual pitying one, 'aw, bless!'

What a wonderfully apt quote today! You've improved my view of America immensely, dotd, and I hope you have a wonderful break, or if you're back for good, that everything works out perfectly for you...!

God Bless the USA--Lee Greenwood

If tomorrow all the things were gone
I'd worked for all my life,
And I had to start again
with just my children and my wife,
I'd thank my lucky stars
to be living here today,
'Cause the flag still stands for freedom
and they can't take that away.

I'm proud to be an American
where at least I know I'm free,
And I won't 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 U.S.A.

From the lakes of Minnesota
to the hills of Tennessee,
Across the plains of Texas
from sea to shining sea.
From Detroit down to Houston
and New York to L.A.,
There's pride in every American heart
and it's time we stand and say:

I'm proud to be an American
where at least I know I'm free,
And I won't 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
God Bless the USA!

HAPPY 4TH EVERYONE!!!

Thanks, DotD! It seems very apt that you have returned a couple days before Independence Day! Here's to you enjoying many more

I am so pleased for you DotD!!Happy 4th to you and yours. And to actually be able to stop and see the flowers, or the grass,just to have the time to do so is excellent. Ya know what , I think I m gonna go outside and just look at the stars for a few minutes and count my blessings. Thanks for the inspiration.............................H

This is definitely the best country in the world, and I've seen a few, and I expect it will continue to be for the next century or more (even if China eventually supplants us in GDP, I think our freedom and living standards will continue to be, well, the standard--"Asian Century" or not). In the 90s our culture was much more pervasive, and there were more "oh wows" when you went to a foreign country and paid for things with dollar bills, but we're still the greatest by a long shot. We're also a global community now, for better or worse.

Glad you're home safe, DotD.

Welcome back, DotD! Glad your travels were safe.

We didn't want you lot anyway.

+JMJ+

Wow. 14 years between posts.

A worthy bump.

Deer and her stag continue to spend their years serving (as educators and witnesses) in Africa and coming back onshore most summers.

When this thread took place, FireDaughter's mom, Furls, was still with us.
One wonders across in the subsequent years, how FireDaughter's twins have grown to near-adolescence.

So many of the posters on this thread are missed...and we are grateful for those still active Watchers.

+JMJ+

Hope everyone's Independence day was great! My wife and I went to a patriotic performance from the Cincinnati Pops and Orchestra. Absolutely outstanding!

I was in Cincinnati a couple years ago. Only time there. Flew in and drove down to Frankfort. My brother moved down there a few years ago.

One of my best friends took a job in Cincinnati a couple of years ago. We've been meaning to go down there and catch a Reds game but haven't had the chance.