Michael's Corner

The odds makers gave me very little chance. In fact, they placed my chances of emerging victorious at a big, fat zero. But those odds makers didn’t know my people—their heart, their fortitude. And thank goodness for the wisdom of Mr. Paine. Trust me when I tell you, there went a fellow who knew a thing or two about “Common Sense.”

Time passed. Many of my people were appalled that we allowed an institution counterintuitive to our ideals to continue. Abolishing that institution faced its share of opposition, but, in the end, we prevailed.

Before long, another revolution (The Industrial Revolution) hovered on the horizon. This one, aside from being a whole lot less bloody than the first, showed the rest of the world how to get its groove on, and many followed our lead. More time passed, and we helped the good guys win two world wars. But it wasn’t all peaches and cream: we got ourselves bogged down in other matters that, to say the least, were controversial. And when I tell you that I took my share of slings and arrows over those affairs, I kid you not. But I’m still standing. And, for that matter, so are you. Incidentally, didn’t I tell you that it’s my birthday this Saturday! So, whatcha gonna get me? Ahh, no worries, I don’t need anything—not even a gift card from Amazon. On second thought, how ’bout this: for one day, instead of wondering what I can do for you, for a switch, try doing something for me. If my memory serves me correctly (I have a helluva memory despite my years), we once had a leader who said words to that effect, though much more eloquently. And now let us sing:

Happy birthday to me

I’m between shining seas

The Atlantic and Pacific

Happy birthday to me

Second verse:

It’s my birthday today

I’ve got one thing to say

Even though I’m not perfect

Everyone wants to stay

*****

Happy 4th, everyone! I’m over here in 105-degree Philadelphia.😒 Should my brain melt and leak out of my ear canals, I hope you enjoyed this post.