The Star Spangled Banner.................

There seems to be a lot of confusion lately just what our national anthem is. This song was written 194 years ago. I'm not really sure what copyright rules were in effect back then but you know, I'm thinking they should pretty much be the same as they are now. This song was written in regard to 'The War of 1812' and the British invasion during the birth of our country. In today's world there seems to be a lot of confusion towards its meaning. This song portrays a part of our history. Any revision or alteration serves an injustice to who we are as a country and where we came from.

This is a new millennium. Times are different now, our country faces different challenges. I respect the need for every voice, nationality, culture to be heard. But let this be a new day. Let a new song be written to express those needs and desires. Why must we alter/amend/steal a song from our past?

The Star Spangled Banner

Written by: Francis Scott Key - 1814

O, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming?

Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,

O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?

And the rocket's red glare, The bomb bursting in air,

Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
O, say does that star spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?

Now it catches the gleam Of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner - O long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion, sweepingly
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.

No refuge could save, The hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

O, thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.

Then conquer we must, When our cause it is just,
And this be our motto - "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Ode To A Fish Named 'Fish'..................

Alas, after three long years, my son's fish lost his battle to live and made his way into that land far beyond the bend in the toilet bowl. Last night as we fed him, I noticed he had lost much of his color and his breathing seemed labored. I pre-warned my son, Ben, that I thought the end was near.

Three years ago after a trip to Wally World I fell in love with a plant that had a Beta fish in a vase. My son fell in love with the fish. After many thought provoking hours thinking of the perfect name, my son came up with the ever original name "Fish" and on occasion "Fishy". After a month or so the fish lived long enough to warrant a tank of his own. While we have had a few other Beta's since his arrival he seemed to be the only one to survive the over feeding, the dirty tank, the toys accidentally or not so accidentally finding their way into his private abode.

As we went into my son's room to check on Fish's status we found him floating at the bottom of his tank. I was preparing the conversation in my head as to how to explain to my son that his fish was in fact dead and stiff as a board. Before I could even utter words of sympathy, my son said, "Mom, Fish is dead! Can I get a snake now?" (followed by his attempt at diabolical laughter). Needless to say it pretty much went downhill from there. My two sons got in a heated discussion as to who would get to push the handle on the toilet to send Fish to the Great Beyond.

Alas, sometimes some of life' lessons don't quite have the impact on our children as we often think they might. And sometimes when a small child loses the fish he had grown to love, he
is also forced to lose or let go of any dream he may have ever had of owning a snake.............. So for now, I am the Dream Crusher, the Evil Mommy who just doesn't understand how cool it would be to be the only kid in class to have a snake. Yes, perhaps those can be heavy words to some, but I know, by this time next week we will be back on the subject of Hermit Crabs and Frogs..............

Just a Simple Easter Greeting............