My Daily Smile

Life is short - begin every day with a smile!

Why we Americans celebrate Independence Day

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July 4 is a very special day here in the United States of America…

By itself, July 4 would be just another date on the calendar. Just another hot, sticky summer day with folks doing whatever they do on any other hot, sticky summer day.

But July 4 is special because it’s the day we Americans celebrate our nation’s independence from an oppressive king and the freedoms we all enjoy today because of it.

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“Duty, Honor, Country”

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“This will remain the land of the free so long as it is the home of the brave.“
 -–Elmer Davis

I’ve often heard it said that freedom isn’t free, and that’s so very true.

Since the day our great nation was founded every generation has produced thousands of patriots who were ready and willing to risk their own lives to protect the freedoms we enjoy as Americans from the tyrants who would  endeavor to take them away.

Virtually every cemetery and graveyard in this country holds the remains of men and women who answered the call of duty and came home draped in the flag they fought so hard to protect.

On Memorial Day we come together as a nation to remember and honor all the brave souls who selflessly sacrificed their own futures so the rest of us could enjoy ours in freedom and peace.

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How the song ‘I Will Always Love You’ went all the way to #1 – three times!

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Image credit: DollyParton.com

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Chances are you’re quite familiar with the hit song “I Will Always Love You”.

What you might not know is that song went to #1 a total of three times, on two different Billboard charts.

This post details the history of that wonderful song and how it eventually made it to the very top of the charts on three different occasions.  [Read more…]

Watch a 10 year old Sierra Hull demonstrate her mandolin skills

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Image credit: Sierra Hull

Living (and loving) Life

A while back I featured this video of mandolin prodigy Sierra Hull performing at the ripe old age 11 on the “Grand Ole Opry” with Allison Krauss & Union Station.

As you might expect, that video was quite well received by most everyone that saw it.

Well, I managed to find another awesome video of a young Sierra teaming up with another of her musical idols, the one and only Sam Bush.

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Video: Do you remember the great Hawaiian blizzard of 2021?

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Snow on the ground in Hawaii

Living (and loving) Life

Did you hear about the terrible blizzard that struck Hawaii back in 2021?

No, I didn’t horribly misspell North Dakota, Minnesota or Alaska. I really did mean Hawaii.

As I mentioned in this post, the big island of Hawaii receives snow on its two highest volcanic peaks every winter, and the winter of 2021-2022 turned out to be quite a doozy.

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