Go west, young girl, go west!
Yes, nowadays it’s young girl as well as young man and what a thrill it is to be on this road trip. It’s been two days since I left the east coast and most of the drive has given way to insight and a renewed sense of freedom. I can now check a few more states off of my list and goal to visit all 50…and thankfully I’m nearly there. What a great country we have. Going through Indiana, Illinois and Missouri was relaxing and it was great to see the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, the most eventful attraction of the day. And, of course the many signs for Branson…….if I didn’t have a committment for another city, I certainly would have ventured down to Branson!
I’ll sign off for now, however in honor of those lost on September 11, 2001 and to our armed forces both here at home and away, I leave you with…….
America, The Beautiful
by Katharine Lee Bates – 1913
O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America! God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
O beautiful for pilgrim feet,
Whose stern impassion’d stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America! God mend thine ev’ry flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!
O beautiful for heroes proved In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved,
And mercy more than life!
America! America! May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness,
And ev’ry gain divine!
O Beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam,
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America! God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!