Thanksgiving...
Being just a teenager, I was marvaled the first time I heard "Your make-believe ball room", a radio program I started to listen from that day on... Yes! At that time television was just begining to broadcast in the country. This was before computers, cell phones, Internet, facebook and all the moderneres we have today...
It was a whole hour program, featuring the most famous American big bands and singers. On those days I was "introduced" to Cole Porter, Rosemary Clooney, Harry James, Oscar Peterson, Jimmy Smith, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Nelson Riddle, Nat King Cole, Doris Day, and the list goes on and on... I grew up embedded on American culture.
I will never forget the first word I learned in English; "please". I was at the movie theater. On the screen, an indian was pulling Audie Murphy ( a famous actor at that time ) in a desert sand, tied by his wrists, and he was begging for a drop of water.
Every Sunday there I was, at the theater, learning English thru the movies, and everything else I could, about America.
That was just the beginning of a "love affair" which lasts till today.
Life moved on and America was put on a distant shelf, inside my mind. This was up to when a big economical crisis was inflicted upon the country... Suddunly, old memories jumped down and, on a whim, on a leap of faith, now married, I said goodbye to everything and moved to America, with a wife and three kids...
The struggle was huge but the love was greater...
This week, when we celebrate Thanksgiving, and the beginning of another Christmass season, time of reflection, like every one should, I want to give thanks for everything America gave me. She is a strong and very wise "lady". She gives you all her love but, she demands to be loved in return. She wants to share with you a responsible relationship, with love, respect, commitment, allegiance and, if you do your part, she will be yours forever...
Here's what I wrote, showing my gratitude...
To America...
I have many things to be thank for today...
I thank for the days, for the stars and the moon,
I thank for our families and friends who stay
with us every moment, at sundown or noon,
to encourage, to chat, to also have fun,
to comfort our soul, to warm up our heart,
to talk on the phone if we are apart,
to help when we think there's nowhere to run...
I thank for my health and also being able
to work, to talk, to listen, to see,
for always endow to have food at the table
for my heirs, my friends, my daughters and me...
I thank for America, a love that I have,
who opened its arms and allowed me to be
a part of this family and live here my dream
in the home of the brave, in the land of the free...
There are also other things to be thankful for,
I might not remember everything I had to,
but there's one in special that I must say, therefore,
I'll always be thankful for having met you...
Copyright 11/2019 Eugenio Colin.
I thank for the days, for the stars and the moon,
I thank for our families and friends who stay
with us every moment, at sundown or noon,
to encourage, to chat, to also have fun,
to comfort our soul, to warm up our heart,
to talk on the phone if we are apart,
to help when we think there's nowhere to run...
I thank for my health and also being able
to work, to talk, to listen, to see,
for always endow to have food at the table
for my heirs, my friends, my daughters and me...
I thank for America, a love that I have,
who opened its arms and allowed me to be
a part of this family and live here my dream
in the home of the brave, in the land of the free...
There are also other things to be thankful for,
I might not remember everything I had to,
but there's one in special that I must say, therefore,
I'll always be thankful for having met you...
Copyright 11/2019 Eugenio Colin.
