A Patriotic Saturday:9....

Thanks again to Samantha for another Saturday:9.  Join in the fun by clicking HERE!

Battle Hymn of the Republic

Welcome to Saturday: 9. What we've committed to our readers is that we will post 9 questions every Saturday. Sometimes the post will have a theme, and at other times the questions will be totally unrelated. Those weeks we do "random questions," so-to-speak. We encourage you to visit other participants posts and leave a comment. Because we don't have any rules, it is your choice. We hate rules. We love memes, however, and here is today's meme!

Saturday 9: Battle Hymn of the Republic (1968)
... because it's 4th of July 

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

This performance of "Battle Hymn of the Republic" is from Robert Kennedy's funeral. So this week, we focus on him. 

1) During WWII, when he was just 17, Robert Kennedy enlisted in the Navy. He was disappointed he was never involved in combat. Tell us about a time when you felt fate/circumstances kept you from something you wanted.  I truly want very little other than the love of family and good friends.  I could be flip and mention winning the lottery and how fate has kept me from becoming rich, but I'm not even disappointed about that. God has been good to me.

2) Bobby was trained as an altar boy and throughout his life regularly attended early morning mass. When is the last time you attended a worship service?  Circumstances have kept us away from our church for a few weeks, between traveling and being sick they probably think we have changed to a different parish.  I love the comfort of a supportive church family but have never believed you have to walk through the door of a church to be a strong believer and a good Christian.  But....     Matthew 18:19-20:  19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

3) He may have been an altar boy, but he was no angel. During junior high he was suspended for punching a classmate. Who is the last person who made you very, very mad?  Obama makes me angry, especially by endorsing Hillary and calling off the Federal Agents who were ready to put her behind bars.  With his endorsement, she is free and it makes me sick. 

4) He had his first date when he was a senior in high school. Looking back, Mary Bailey Gimble told Kennedy biographers that she knew he had a crush on her and wondered why it took him so long to ask her out. Tell us about one of your early crushes.  In fourth grade, I had a crush on Doug Pillows. He had buck teeth, but I thought he was so cute!  In fifth grade, I had a major crush on Steve Smoke, an older boy. He finally sat next to me on the school bus and it made me mad. I didn't like him any more after that. HA!!

5) Bobby's wife Ethel is as bubbly and talkative as he was introspective and shy. He was organized, she's messy. While opposites may attract, do you believe the happiest marriages are between partners who are more similar than different?  Similar works well in our house.

6) By November 1960, when he was 35 years old, Bobby already had served as legal counsel to two Senate committees and run his brother's successful Presidential campaign. He was looking forward to a quieter life teaching law but gave in to family pressure to become President Kennedy's Attorney General. Tell us about a time when you were at a crossroads. Who influenced your decision?  Nearly 20 years ago, I had two job offers. One from a new private school, working with the Principal I had worked with at another private school (I was Business Manager at Santa Fe Catholic High School). The other was from the Museum.  The Principal actually helped me make my decision when he told me he couldn't promise stability with a start-up school and he would understand if I chose the Museum, which I did.  That school is now one of the biggest private schools in our county (All Saints Academy) and I've often wondered what would have happened had I gone there instead.  I drive by it frequently and have watched it grow.  Mike retired a bunch of years ago, though, and I may not have liked the new Principal - or visa versa.  I made the right decision.

7) In 1777, Colonists celebrated July 4 with the firing of cannons and muskets, followed by a public reading of the Declaration of Independence. What is your neighborhood doing to observe the day?  Our neighborhood is very small. We don't do anything as a neighborhood, but our beautiful city, Lakeland, has a HUGE celebration!!  Red, White and KABOOM!!

8) The Revolutionary War still raged during that summer of 1777. General George Washington allowed his soldiers to celebrate with a double ration of rum on July 4. Do you know anyone who is serving in the military this 4th of July?  One of our nephews is a Marine and we are very proud of him.
 
9) Celebrity chef Rachael Ray says she considers mini-hamburgers, or "sliders," the All-American food. What will you be eating this 4th of July?  The only thing I know for sure is Peach Cobbler. That's the dessert I told Helen we would bring to her house (or have at ours, should company come and the party gets moved to our house).

Thanks so much for joining us again at Saturday: 9. As always, feel free to come back, see who has participated and comment on their posts. In fact sometimes, if you want to read & comment on everyone's responses, you might want to check back again tomorrow. But it is not a rule. We haven’t any rules here. Join us on next Saturday for another version of Saturday: 9, "Just A Silly Meme on a Saturday!" Enjoy your weekend!

A shout out to my BFF Elaine, who is celebrating her birthday today, and is officially older than me now!!  I'm almost jealous, though....of that magical 65!!

Thanks for checking in on this first day of our three-day weekend!  Peace & hugs!