Tis of Thee

The time for celebration is upon us once again as America salutes itself this Fourth of July. In case you've been in a coma or just plain can't do arithmetic, we as a nation have made it to the benchmark of two hundred and fifty years of existence. SA-LUTE as they used say on Hee-Haw. Happy birthday. Your card's in the mail.

Why so blase', Cher-nay? Call it holiday burn-out, I reckon. We seem to be celebrating everything these days, blissfully ignorant that it's merely a series of cash grabs, Christmas being the main culprit, though there are several runners-up. (I'm looking at you, Halloween) Whatever keeps the economy moving, good taste be damned. Those Memorial Days sales should remind us that our men and women in uniform died on the battlefield just so that you could get 25% off a Barcalounger. 

Every day it's something new. National Chocolate Chip Day. Stapler Awareness Week. Gummi Bear Pride Month. The over abundance of these quasi-events trivializes those people and events that actually deserve recognition into near-obliteration. "Sorry, I can't come to the memorial of your proud heritage because it's national Air Traffic Control Day." https://nationaltoday.com/national-air-traffic-control-day/

But as far as this particular holiday goes, the 250th has been pretty much downplayed up until the last last weeks (with the exception of the Great American State Fair debacle) and I'm okay with that. I lived through the days when the Bicentennial was rammed down our throats from every angle available and that way WAY before the Internet, social media or even Cable TV. Those Bicentennial Minute segments alone were about to send me over the edge.

"In this, our Bicentennial Year" became a cringe-worthy reminder that you could not escape this patriotic deluge even if you tried. Two hundred years was indeed a major milestone, but I, for one, couldn't wait for it to be over.

As for this year, well, 250 is all fine and dandy but it doesn't even have a catchy name. 300 will be the Tricentennial, but this is what, the Polytennial? Whoop-ti-do. I'll be long gone by 2076, so have it. 

Hey, I'm just not big on nationalism, okay? I've been onstage signing George M. Cohan songs 'til the cows come home and even went to the wall for the US of A during 9/11. Lately though, it's tough to be all rah-rah for what's been happening to this country since even before the turn of the century. I know what we're capable of us as people to want things to be better for us. And it's not for lack of love that I don't wave the flag willy-nilly. I find it to be an empty gesture if it's not sincere. I am an American through and through. I'll never live anywhere else especially at this late date. So excuse if I don't join you at the parade. I'll say hoo-ray for the red, white and blue in my own

inimitable fashion while I duck and cover from all the illegal fireworks that will be set off when the sun goes down since I live in the center of Ground Zero here in Washington County, Oregon.

Enjoy your Fourth if you feel the urge and come back home with all your fingers.