God Bless America.

There is no more fitting title than that. It is funny that as I got older people began to ask me more and more what nationality I am, and my answer became more and more consistent. American. For those who are new to the game, I am the son of a white mother and black father. There are people who call me Mexican, Middle Eastern, etc. But when it really comes down to it, I am the product of a country in which I at one time could not have stood just steps from the Capitol and watched a fireworks show. At one time I would not have celebrated this Independence Day. But I do. Because I am American. In ever sense of the word.

Talk about an All-American day. First, how beautiful is that photo of the Capitol and Washington Monument? Amazing right? Welcome to Washington, D.C. A good friend from Seattle came up from his summer internship in Jacksonville for the weekend (Jim Cain). We went out last night, but today was the big day. First we got $10 tickets in the lower outfield section at the National game. Make no mistake, these were awesome seats. In the shade, but about five rows up from the field. Since we started drinking beer at 10, we didn't stop. A couple of a hot dogs, some beers and then some BBQ straight for the smoker at the ballpark? I'm living a dream. Even got to see the Nats rally from a 3-0 down to win 5-3. Adam Dunn hit a monstrous homerun over our head.
After the game we headed to the National Mall to just walk around a little. There were thousands of people just hanging out, eating, praying, standing in line for the big concert on the Hill and otherwise celebrating America. After spending some time at happy hour, where we learned that yet another celebrity has died (this time a little more violently), we headed back to the mall, right between the Washington Monument and WWII memorial. There country artist Mark Wills was beginning a big country show along with the U.S. Army Band. It was awesome. Does it get better than the Capitol Mall, country music, 500,000 people, and then sitting down to a 20 minute fireworks show over the reflecting pool? No. Period.
I am a somewhat nostalgic person, if you don't know that about me already. So shows like tonight's just tug at me hard. The lyrics in one of the songs by Wills went something like "I am just living my dream...as a singer in the band." Well that's exactly what I am doing. I have a job in Washington, D.C. I told a campaign friend of mine last night to take a little break today just to think about how today is the reason we do what we do. Well, if I didn't already know, after the show Jim and I walked about and stood next to the Washington Monument and looked out at the Capitol building and I was quickly reminded. The feeling just hits you that you are in a place where the world can be changed. And if for some reason you don't believe it is possible, you need only stand where we stood for the fireworks and look across the memorials and reflecting pool and see Abraham Lincoln looking out over us, reminding us how far our country has come. It is our job to take it to the next level. But the overarching them with all of this is simple: God Bless America. May He continue to let this country prosper. We have our glaring weaknesses, but we also have our amazing strengths. And mythical as the dream may be, there are still few places in the world where a kid from the projects could be standing 3,000 miles from home in his nation's Capitol, as a college graduate, with a job. And that kid is the perfect example of what is good about this country. And he is American. And I am proud of it. I love this country. I stood screaming and clapped for veterans and current members of the military today and thanked them. Because they make this possible.

So please, God Bless America. Just like You always have.

Stay Classy.

Some other stuff:

Again, Steve McNair was killed last night it appears. This is absolutely rough in the NFL and, sadly, another black mail dying by way of a bullet. A statistic.

On a lighter note, in case you wondering, Tim Lincecum is still better than you. And everyone else really.

In an All-American final Serena Williams ran away with the Wimbledon trophy.

And, just a stat here, Thomas Jefferson won the President's race at the Nats game.

I miss y'all. Happy Fourth. May God continue to bless us and our great country.