You know that phrase, "You'll thank me later!"
You usually hear it right after a lecture, advice or some sort of discipline.
I probably heard this phrase from my Dad 753 times growing up.
I was a good kid, but 99% of the time I heard him say "You'll thank me later" I'm sure I offered up the ever-so-ungrateful teenager eye-roll.
The vast majority of the things he lectured me on, I either can't remember or I see no reason to offer thanks at this day and time. Not sure why I needed to shoot 500 free throws every night of the week. I'm in marketing and graphic design now, that didn't help me become Brittany Griener.
(Whew, THANK GOD)
I'll tell you one thing I never understood then,
and I didn't understand even after 9/11.
But I understand now, after Boston.
Dad: "Sarah Venus put your hand on your heart for this country. Next time I see you without your hand on your heart during the National Anthem, I'm not letting the coach put you in the game."
Me: "Dad, there isn't one other girl that has their hand on their heart!! Why do I have to do it?? I'll look like a nerd."
Dad: "Do it. You'll thank me later"
So I did it. I wanted to go in the game, obviously. I felt like such a nerd the whole time because all of my teammates just held their hands behind their back or at their sides. Talk about stupid stuff we worry about as a high school kid, huh?
I put my hand on my heart for every high school basketball game I played in, I put my hand on my heart for every sporting event I attended as a fan. I didn't understand it, I just did it because I was told to.
This weekend, as I watched
David Ortiz drop passionate F bombs for his love of Boston - then be forgiven by the FCC
as I watched
The people of Boston celebrate in the streets waiving American flags
as I watched
The stories of the heroes who had NO FEAR and went in and helped bombing victims when they easily could have run (like I would have).
I got it.
Our continued actions of patriotism hold America right to our hearts.
My Dad passed away in 2006 when I was just 19, so I never got to thank him for this lesson on patriotism. I'm sure he knew it would click one day! Parents are smart like that.
So here I am asking you all to join me and,
take your hat off at a baseball game (you can fix your hair after, I promise)
and put your hand on your heart during the National Anthem
Shake a soldiers hand, tell them thank you
We are the United States of Fucking America.
--If David can say it, I can say it, right FCC?
God Bless America.
