Saturday9~ America, the Beautiful

America, the Beautiful

America, the Beautiful

Hosted by Samantha!

Unfamiliar with Frank Sinatra's 1945 version of this song? Hear it here.

1945

1) In 2016, a group recommended that this week's song replace "The Star Spangled Banner" as our national anthem. They maintain it's just as beautiful but easier to sing. How do you feel about this?

I personally do not like to mess with  historical tradition.

2) Katharine L. Bates said her lyrics were inspired by a trip to Pike's Peak. What's the most beautiful American spot you've ever visited? 

I've never been  out west to see the majestic Rockies,  but I think the Smokies  have a beauty  and mystery about them!

3) The music was written by organist Samuel Augustus Ward. Both Bates and Ward were very formal when signing their names professionally -- she including her middle initial and he with his full middle name. How about you? When you sign checks or documents, do you use your middle name or initial?

I used to use my middle initial  but not any more!

4) In 1945, when this version of the song was recorded, America lost Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Frank Sinatra said, "I lost a hero." What late, great American hero from our past would you like to honor today? 

I have always admired Robert E. Lee.

Robert E. Lee was born to the illustrious family of  Washington, DC.. His  ancestral home  rests  on the site of the National  Cemetery in Arlington, Va...  where  patriots   and veterans  are laid to rest. 
  




 A son of Revolutionary War officer Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee III, Lee was a top graduate of the United States Military Academy and an exceptional officer and military engineer in the United States Army for 32 years. During this time, he served throughout the United States, distinguished himself during the Mexican–American War, and served as Superintendent of the United States Military Academy.  Then,  Virginia, his home  state  seceded from the Union..  And  Abraham Lincoln offered him  to be his Commander of the Union forces,  but  Lee could not in good conscious  fight against his beloved Virginia,  so  he was chosen to head up the Confederacy,    to fight a war that was doomed from the beginning  to  be a  bloody, horrible defeat for the south..  He served well and  valiantly..  He was a complete  gentleman  at very turn..      

It breaks my heart  that  history  revisionists  want to    completely    rewite and  horribly denigrate the south  now.  It isn't taught  now how  the war was as much about states' rights as it was slavery.    Slavery  was and will always be a horrible   thing, I am not  deminishing  its  effect  on our country,  but so many  historical statues have been  taken down and demolished..  trying to rub out the  valor that  many great   men  performed    in our  country's history!  The Civil War was  hard and   cruel..;  many times families fought agaisnt families, neighbor against neighbor..   It was a  terrible time for the south, which was pretty much destroyed.  There was no hope for an agrarian community to war against an industrial one.  I taught history and    Robert E. Lee will always be a great hero to me!

5) Also in 1945, a 19-year-old "hoofer" waited outside the Los Angeles radio station where Sinatra was being interviewed. That was the beginning of the friendship between Sammy Davis, Jr., and Frank Sinatra. Tell us about your oldest friend.
My oldest friend is Joyce..  She was born   when I was 6  and she lived across the street from me.  Her mother  was my babysitter  after school so I grew up  watching  Joyce for  her mom  while  she fixed  dinner  and   answered the phone.   Joyce was really the only playmate I had..  and I taught her all of the   yard games,  and we  would swing together and and play hide and seek..  which was  fun because we both had  very large yards.So when I was   12 she was 6  etc. Joyce kept me young at heart.  We'd play Barbie dolls,  school, and office..all kinds of board games,  and as she got older and  I was a teen  we  even  got to spying on the neighbor    ..  an elderly couple who  we always thought was rather odd..  We kept a  note book  of all the "mysterious, clandestined going ons" over there.  A light coming on in the parlor  could    excite us as we  envisioned  what  devious might be  going on there!   So funny, we never ventured over to really spy  but did all our imaginings from Joyce's front porch!  We were too scared of  Mr.  ____.  He really was  rather  msyterious!  
 When I was 15  and would get bored I would go outside and whistle and if she   was  available she would come out and we  would  just   sit and talk about stuff!  Then I started dating and  then was off to college,  but we were still always close and sometimes I would whistle even then...  When I got married  she was my maid of honor.. . She is a teacher  in the next county..  Our paths sometimes cross and it is as if  we  hadn't  been apart,  but we do not  hang out at all any more...     I still love her like a little sister!!

6) The Fourth of July means we're in the middle of summer. Are you careful about applying sunscreen?

I  have to  wear sunscreen and a big floppy hat everywhere I go...    I've had  reconstructive surgery twice on my face...  Do not want any more!

7) Mosquito bites can be a major summer annoyance. Are you scratching any itches right now?

Yes, but not from  mosquitoes.. I have naturally very dry problematic skin!

Have to keep  this handy!!!

8) Emergency rooms report an increase in wrist injuries in summer, with people falling off bikes and skateboards and jamming their wrists catching hard-hit softballs. Have you been to the ER or Urgent Care during 2019?

Yes,  while I was in the Boston area a 4x4 inch maple post fell on my head and I ended up with  staples in the back of my head..  Not fun!!! But thankful for this great new  facility!!!!

9) New York is home to Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest every year on the 4th. Will hot dogs be consumed in your household this weekend?  We had them on the Fourth,  and I just ate a left over one  for lunch!  I love them!!!