Dear Readers,

You will find, that throughout my writings that I am a woman of deep thinking.  Sometimes the urge just hits me to write something a little personal.  that moment JUST occurred!!

I grew up a sheltered life...a GOOD thing....

But, I spent most of my teen years thinking only of where ELSE I could be than here in GA.!    We were not well off and had enough food and shelter, but no money for travelling.  So, I just KNEW there was  a better life SOMEWHERE!

When I was nearly 20, I married a very wonderful man.....who happened to be in the Army.  Now, you have to understand how difficult that was for me, to even like him.  All My life, I had heard that the ONLY thing any of those GI's out at Ft Gordon wanted  was what I did not want to give them <wink>, and that they would leave you once they got it!!!  So, marrying this "GI" was a BIG step.   

6 months later, we headed off to Germany, WEST Germany back then! This was still during the Cold War.  I was SO excited to be travelling, going to other countries seeing other places.  I knew I would find a better place!!   Well, to make a long story short,  20 years later, more than a dozen moves and after travelling all over the world and in 48 states (never made it to HI or ME).......LOOK where I am!!!   Right back here in GA! in the USA!   BY CHOICE!

Over my short life, so far, I have learned the overwhelming value of being an AMERICAN!!   People sometimes say, "it isnt free here".....well NOTHING IS FREE  (news flash!)!!   Especially FREEDOM !!

We, as Americans, have the most freedoms and most choices of anyone or anyplace I have seen!  Just take a peek at the statistics.  How many people 'legally' immigrate to the good ole USofA every year?  Why do we have such questions about illegal immigration?    IF AMERICA wasnt such a GREAT place and BEACON of FREEDOM....Do you think we would have any immigration problems?   NO!

It would behoove each and every one of us to DRIVE this into the heads of our children, take them to other countries to live for more than 2 weeks and really SHOW them first hand what the COST of FREEDOM is.   And how complicated it is.....FREEDOM is neither FREE nor SIMPLE!!

I will step off my soap box now........

Have a great Memorial Day and NEVER NEVER forget "those who died" so you can be free!

Maria