It's 9AM
Every time I see the Flag on something other than a pole, I say one word.
Murica.
Not the red white and blue color scheme.
The fifty stars and stripes.
And I’ve seen it on a lot.
Shorts and swim trunks.
Tank tops and bikini’s.
Beach towels and blankets.
There are whole product lines built on Old Glory.
Do they do that in other countries?
Is the Union Jack on a leather jacket a thing?
I feel like I’ve seen it before, a punk rock album or photography in a coffee table book.
Another market, though it might do well in the USA.
That or we would say to anyone who wore it, “Hey, dummy, you got the Flag wrong.”
With serious faces and southern accents, I imagine.
I’ve seen our state flag on a tee shirt, and California’s bear too.
I’m not sure I’ve ever seen Maine’s.
I grew up saying the Pledge of Allegiance in the classroom every day.
Stand up, face the corner where the flag hung limp on a pole, put your hand over your heart and recite after the boy or girl who got picked to lead the class that day.
I don’t ever remember praying in school, except before games during dates.
We stopped pledging around middle school.
Those few minutes could be better spent on Algebra, or Spanish 101 or conjugating dangling participles, I guess.
If one does not conjugate dangling participles, you may write an essay in the comments on grammatical correctness and it’s importance after high school and college.
I have yet to be asked to diagram a sentence in the Corporate world, and don’t do it for fun in my free time.
I haven’t pledged allegiance at work either, or worn a flag on a shirt for that matter.
I guess I’m struck by the evolution of things some days.
How one thing turned into something else.
I try to see it as an expansion, try to keep an open mind about it.
Most of the time.
Not open enough to wear a flag Tee Shirt, but maybe I’ll accept it on others.
Even if in my mind, I’m thinking certain things and ways.
Because I still get a little misty at The Star Spangled Banner.
I have difficulty reconciling “respect the flag” with slapping it on swim shorts.
But I like running ideas up the flag pole even if I don’t like the way the results bear out.
I’m not waving my opinion looking for a rally, I’m just thinking about the Stars and Stripes.
I was trained to react a certain way every time I hear the horns play, and I wonder if it started way back in elementary school.
Conditioned to love or at least be loyal.
At least I don’t salute the tank top if I’m in Daytona Beach and the Star Spangled Banner starts to play.
Though I must confess that I stare long and hard at the flag bikini’s under the right conditions and mutter one thing.
“God Bless America.”
Grab these free
Shield-Maiden: Under the Howling Moon
The Nine: A Dark Humor Urban Fantasy
Chasing Midlife Demons: A Paranormal
Midlife Mountain Magic: Paranormal
PLUS
AND
I asked AI to summarize a novel I’m working on and this is what it built.
Nano Samurai
The Samurai's Tribute
The sun was setting over the mountains as the famous female samurai warrior, Kaida, rode her horse along the winding road towards the emperor's palace. Her master, Lord Takeda, had entrusted her with a tribute of gold and jewels to present to the emperor as a symbol of his loyalty and respect. Kaida was known for her bravery and skill in battle, and she had faced many challenges in her life, but this journey would be her most perilous yet.
The road was packed with bandits and rival clan warriors, all eager to steal the tribute and claim the credit for themselves. Kaida rode with her hand on her sword, ready to defend herself and her precious cargo. She was determined to complete her mission, no matter what obstacles stood in her way.
The first attack came just as the moon rose over the hills. A group of bandits leapt out from behind a boulder, swords drawn and faces twisted in fury. Kaida reacted with lightning-fast reflexes, drawing her sword and slicing through the air. The bandits fell back, surprised by her skill and power. Kaida urged her horse on, galloping towards the next challenge.
As dawn broke over the horizon, Kaida saw a group of rival clan warriors waiting for her on the road ahead. They were heavily armed and well-trained, and Kaida knew that this battle would be her hardest yet. She slowed her horse and drew her sword, her heart pounding with excitement and fear.
The warriors charged towards her, shouting battle cries and brandishing their weapons. Kaida met them head-on, her sword flashing in the sunlight. The battle was long and fierce, but Kaida's skill and determination won out in the end. The warriors lay defeated on the ground, and Kaida rode on towards the emperor's palace.
When Kaida arrived at the palace gates, she was exhausted but triumphant. She presented the tribute to the emperor, bowing low and offering her loyalty and respect. But as she stood up, she realized that something was wrong. The emperor was looking at her with a strange expression, and his courtiers were whispering and laughing behind their hands.
"My dear Kaida," the emperor said, his voice smooth and oily. "I have been looking forward to meeting you. You are even more beautiful and skilled than I had heard."
Kaida felt a cold shiver run down her spine. She had heard stories about the emperor's love of beautiful women, and she knew that she was in danger.
"Your highness," she said, her voice steady but firm. "I am honoured to have served my master and brought him the tribute he requested. But I am not here to be your concubine."
The emperor's smile faded, and his eyes narrowed. "You are a brave woman, Kaida. But you are also a foolish one. I have the power to make your life very comfortable or very miserable. Choose wisely."
Kaida stood there, her mind racing. She knew that becoming the emperor's concubine would mean a life of luxury and ease, but it would also mean giving up her freedom and her dignity. She thought of all the battles she had fought, all the challenges she had overcome. She could not bear the thought of being dehumanized and used like a piece of property.
But she also knew that defying the emperor would have consequences. She could be imprisoned, tortured, or even killed. She stood there, her sword at her side, contemplating her options.
The emperor watched her, his expression unreadable. The courtiers whispered and giggled, waiting for her to make her choice.
And then, suddenly, Kaida turned and walked away. She mounted her horse and rode out of the palace gates, her head held high. The emperor watched her go, his rage and disappointment burning in his eyes.
Kaida rode back to her master's castle, her heart heavy with the knowledge that she had disappointed him. But she also knew that she had made the right choice. She would rather live as a warrior than as a concubine. She would rather fight for her freedom than surrender it to a man who saw her as nothing more than a beautiful object.
And so, Kaida's story continues. Will she face more battles and challenges in the future? Will she find love and happiness? Only time will tell. But one thing is certain: she will always be a warrior, a fighter, a woman who refuses to be tamed or controlled.
"I have yet to be asked to diagram a sentence in the Corporate world, and don’t do it for fun in my free time."
That is quite true. However, the time spent diagramming sentences had a great deal to do with your ability to compose a proper one in later life, so it was not time wasted.