I think there's one in my raincoat""We smoked the last one an hour ago"So I looked at the scenery, she read her magazineAnd the moon rose over an open field ( Paul Simon)
something about the above lyrics......it always struck me as being so very American ( and not just because of the song title Dano).........looking for a cigarette that doesn't exist.......accepting the inevitable disappointment along the way of the great cross country journey.......the moon rising over the open fields screamed Kerouac to me.....the bus.....the agony and the ecstacy of those bus rides......with childlike enthusiasm the bus rolls over the plains.....so excited to get THERE.....that we fail appreciate the beautiful here and now that unfolds across this land......years later a rare hollywood classic "Almost Famous" captured it as well......as the drunk-hungover-road weary rock band and their groupies and crew converse another stretch of American farmland, they began to sing along with the radio to Elton Johns "Tiny Dancer".....(if you have never seen it, please do) there is a real comradery that is experienced amongst friends on that American Road...and when you mix in Rock n Roll, Country or Folk music you have the recipe for a perfect cocktail that everyone would love to sip or gulp and the local gin mill.
Jesus Freaks.....in the Streets
handing tickets out for God
turning back, she just laughs
the Boulevard is not that bad
As we sit on the precipice of our 250th Birthday, it is impossible not to swell with pride, we are unabashedly the greatest Nation not just on Earth.....but in the long tired history of the planet......we certainly are Gods Favorite acre......he blessed US with all his greatest gifts.....it's as if the rest of globe was a testing ground.....a place to make and learn from mistakes....and when the time was right, the best, brightest, bravest from the 4 corners came to this land to Thrive.....to Build it, Invent it, consume it and enjoy it......and pay no homage to the man made kings from the lands we all escaped from....we are grateful to our ancestors that made the bold move to this country, but once here they became Americans ( all 4 of my grandparents were born in Ireland, i owe each of them an unpayable debt for my existence here) I grew up with many friends from Italy and other Non English speaking European countries....and although some of their parents and Grandparents could not speak English, they insisted that the children Only speak English.....they desperately wanted to assimilate and become part of this American culture. So many first generation Americans took menial labor, some took multiple jobs, whatever jobs were available to provide for the family and provide an education to their children....they were willing to "tough it out", with the hopes that their next generation would move up the ladder a rung or two.......and it Worked.
Today we talk about our blessings and forget our troubles......as Dylan would say...."lets forget about today until tomorrow"
We truly have it all.....we most certainly are the Promised Land....multiple climates and rich bountiful soil that is ripe for planting.....we grow it all here, we feed ourselves........hell we are even oil abundant...who knew..........we have the greatest beaches on two beautiful coasts and some weird shit in Texas along the Gulf of America and stretching through Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama......we have mountains and plenty of skiing.....we have rivers and lakes for drinking water and fishing, we even have scary deserts for the occasional acid trip....we have invented all the sports that really matter ....we perfected golf by adding lovely Cart Girls with Coolers of Boooze...and we are responsible for the greatest music to grace your ears. Our Military continues to save the planet every 20 years or so.....we have defeated the Greatest Tyrants and dictators that Satan could throw at us.....and we did it all with a smile and a pack of cigarettes tucked into out T shirts.....we are that melting....a cultural stew, with only the best ingredients from the rest of the world.....we are the Cats Meow....and Everybody Knows It.
I feel particularly Blessed to have been born when i was........10 years sooner or 10 years later would not have been as good for me......young enough to miss serving in Vietnam and old enough to retire from Wall Street before DEI and AI swallow us all.
Growing up in Brooklyn....specifically Bayridge.....i was blessed knowing the greatest group of characters......mostly older, but some younger....the generation or 2 that proceeded my group set the table, they laid the foundation for the Greatest Neighborhood environment.....I suspect or i hope that people from every town in America feel exactly the same way about their little acre.....but we know I am right about ours.
This weekend i will watch the ships sail into the Narrows on TV......under the most Magnificent Bridge i have ever laid eyes on....the VZ.....and i will watch Kyle Macy light fireworks over and around Lady Liberty and John Roeblings Masterpiece of a Brooklyn Bridge....and my heart will pound a little faster, and the hair on my neck will stand up....and i might shed a tear....but it will be a tear of Pride.........and i thank everyone who reads this , because you all have played a role.
God Bless America
Stay Safe
I'll never forget the first time i heard Lee Greenwoods anthem.....1985......I was staitoned on Diego Garcia.....and i spent at least 7 nights a week in the Base Club drinking with my shipmates....they played his song at Last Call every night......and Every Soul in that Joint Stood and sang....every single night......I hope they still do....it was a marvelous tradition....we tried to sing loud enough for the Ruskies in Moscow to hear us.......we were in their backyard with a fleet of B2 bombers.....amen
