An American Creed

With all of the election nonsense, some days I find it hard to remember what being an American is all about.  I heard this read on the radio this afternoon, and I just love it.  This is what America used to be all about.  And it still is what America is all about... somewhere underneath all that craziness.

I Do Not Choose to Be a Common Man

It is my right to be uncommon—if I can.

I seek opportunity—not security. I do not wish to be a kept citizen, humbled and dulled by having the state look after me.

I want to take the calculated risk; to dream and to build, to fail and to succeed.

I refuse to barter incentive for a dole. I prefer the challenges of life to the guaranteed existence; the thrill of fulfillment to the stale calm of utopia.

I will not trade freedom for beneficence nor my dignity for a handout. I will never cower before any master nor bend to any threat.

It is my heritage to stand erect, proud and unafraid; to think and act for myself, enjoy the benefit of my creations and to face the world boldly and say, “This I have done.”

By Dean Alfange

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*Originally published in This Week Magazine.
Later printed in The Reader’s Digest, October 1952 and January 1954.

The Honorable Dean Alfange was an American statesman born December 2, 1899, in Constantinople (now Istanbul). He was raised in upstate New York. He served in the U.S. Army during World War I and attended Hamilton College, graduating in the class of 1922.

Random Post

Well, as you can see, I have been playing around with my blog clothes.  What do you think?  I'm not 100% loving it yet. But it's a work in progress. :)

Last week (or maybe it was 2 weeks ago now?), I had an unexpected chance to meet my Great Aunt Ima Joyce, and her granddaughter and granddaughter-in-law, Emily and Shelley.  I think that makes us 2nd cousins.  We had a delicious lunch at Panera.  I had a great time, and I hope we can get together more often now that I know they are here in Texas, too!  

Congratulations to the Gifford family, on their new addition!

As long as this post is pretty random already, I have been getting some good chuckles at this blog.  Check it out!

And why not throw a scrapbook page in here while I'm at it?  This is one of my new favorites.

no longer MIA

It's been a while.

I'm not sure why, but time seems go be spinning faster and faster out of control. Maybe I should look up Stephen Hawking and find out why.

I've been home for the past 3 weeks, an unknown blessing of Hurricane Ike. But this past weekend Dan and I drove to Houston to check out the wreckage (not as bad as I had thought), and Monday morning he flew back home, and I stayed for the week.

Whenever I am traveling I tend to watch more news channels than usual. I love watching them talk politics. Even though I've pretty made up my mind about who I am going to vote for, I find it entertaining to watch the politics. But if you haven't made up your mind yet, here's a little help:

Click here.

Good luck & REMEMBER TO VOTE!