Ninja Turtle Underwear and Papasans

My first boyfriend was in 1st grade. We dated until about 3rd grade. In fact, in 2nd grade on the way back from the dairy farm field trip he showed me his ninja turtle underwear on the bus. WE even kissed in the big tire (which is crazy because the top of it only goes to my hips now but I remember it being huge). I accidentally pushed him one day and he ran into a fence and chipped his tooth. What can I say? It was childhood love:) His name was Jacob and he is married now with a daughter. He is also a soldier, and the one I think of anytime something is said to remember our troops. So today, I say to Jacob, thank you. Thank you for fighting for our freedom.

I also think of Cory. Cory is my Pier 1 buddy. We worked there in high school together and this guy would always make me laugh. I remember countless times of waiting to go home after closing and falling asleep in the papasan chair. The manager at the time had a horrible time with math and would always screw up on the tills, keeping us there like 2 1/2 hours after closing. So we would fall asleep waiting for her. Either that or pretending to ride those ridiculous huge metal giraffes. Today, Cory is a soldier and another one I think of when remember the men and women fighting for our freedom. Cory, thank you.

I dont have any family or anyone closely or directly in my life serving in this war, but I do have old friends who I remember as children. They are grown men now who sacrifice themselves everyday for us. For America. Whether you agree with the politics going on or the people who are leading us, it doesnt change the fact that that these guys have decided that America and what we stand for is something worth fighting for. I for one, am entirely grateful and proud.

Happy 233rd Birthday America. May the efforts of these soldiers bring us many more years of freedom!