Giving Thanks

Growing up, I was a huge fan of Charles Kuralt's On the Road series on CBS. He was a superb writer and a master storyteller.

This piece, which first aired back in 1978, is as moving today as it was back then:

I miss Charles Kuralt... but I'm grateful we still have his reminder, courtesy of the remarkable Chandler family of Prairie, Mississippi, of what Thanksgiving is all about. May you be as blessed on this day as they are. I certainly feel that way today. :c)

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

The Palpable Truth

In the final video in my previous post, Charles Kuralt describes how Thomas Jefferson was invited to Washington DC to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence (which, of course, he wrote).

This is an excerpt from his reply, declining the invitation because of poor health. Ten days later, on July 4, 1826, he died.

"The general spread of the light of science has already laid open to every view the palpable truth, that the mass of mankind has not been born with saddles on their backs, nor a favored few booted and spurred, ready to ride them legitimately, by the grace of God. These are grounds of hope for others. For ourselves, let the annual return of this day forever refresh our recollections of these rights, and an undiminished devotion to them."

I still get goosebumps every time I read that. :c)

American Tune(s)

I always think of July 4th when I hear this song (performed here by its author, Steve Goodman):

And the man who made it famous:

Of course, what band is more quintessentially American than the Beach Boys?

And here is the song I heard on the radio just now that prompted me to post this:

Last but not least, the great Charles Kuralt shares some thoughts on the author of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson. Coincidentally, both Kuralt and Jefferson passed away on July 4th.

Happy Independence Day!!!