Happy Birthday America!

A War Hero's Birthday

We celebrated the anniversary of D-Day a few weeks back (my son's a WW II buff) at our house and while you may be familiar with that historic event, if you don't know the story of Audie Murphy, another compelling part of the history of World War II, you should.  


It's art imitating life, and life imitating art.  It is inspiring and intriguing and so totally worth knowing about. 


There are not many American heroes of his calibre, one's we can teach our children about.  

Somber expressions at Murphy's gravesite at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C.

Happy Birthday and thank you to Medal of Honor recipient and Great American Audie Murphy who, if he were alive, would be 87 years old today.    

World Jugglers Day

As promised,

Flag Day

 My love of holidays goes waaaay back.  

Just after  I was engaged in 1990, my office workers offered to throw me a Bridal Shower.  Working to select a date, they said, "What are you doing on June 14th?"  "Well, it's Flag Day." I responded.  Ergo (believe it or not), a shower theme was born. 

And because I know you are wondering what Stars and Stripes meets prenuptial party looks like (c'mon, aren't you just a little curious?), here are a few photos chronicling the event:

That's me in the middle, with hostess Jackie and my soon-to-be husband in his "Erkel" glasses (take note of our red-white-blue attire)

Checking out the Flag Cake

A few of the decorations

Take it from me, kitchen and lingerie showers are overrated for brides to be.  We had a grand ol' party!  

National Zoo and Aquarium Month

I must admit that living in Atlanta is a boon for those of us who are happy to celebrate June as National Zoo and Aquarium Month. 

Not only do we have a world-class zoo, one of just a handful in the U.S. fortunate to have a panda exhibit, 

we are also home to the world’s largest aquarium. 

Our family has visited both of these city treasures countless times: on school field trips, for birthday parties, with out of town guests and even on our own, just for fun.  

It doesn't hurt that one particular member of our family, particularly at a young age, was an aquatic and zoological zealot.  I'll let you guess which one.  

In Kindergarten, doing his Willie B. imitation

Too cool for school (get it?)

In fact, when he was about 8, he maintained a running list of his favorite animals, which he was happy to recite.  They included (in abbreviated David Letterman fashion):

6.  anaconda

5. American bison

4. Thorny Devil

3. cheetah

2. Komodo dragon

1. hedgehog (always and forever at the top of the list)

but which also included at various times, the tiger, the Great White Shark as well as the white rhino.  

On the Atlanta Zoo train

All this talk of wildlife has me thinking another trip (to both places) may be in order.  

Memorial Day

Graduation Day

Thirty-three years ago:

Tara High School, Baton Rouge, LA

Twenty-five years ago:

University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA

Yesterday:  

Riverwood International Charter  School, Sandy Springs, GA