HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA

What to get you for your birthday... hmmm.

Well, let's see. What do you get for the country that apparently has everything?

Hmmmm. Tough birthday gift. Man! It's like trying to get something for my father's birthday. Damn! He's already got everything he needs, and yet I always wanna pick out something special.

Well, let's see. Hmmmm. Let me think... birthday gift... America... America...

Well, you've already got plenty of military might. Um... you've got pleny of farmland and mineral wealth. You've got plenty of creative, inventive, and innovative people. Lot's of heart. Plenty of good and decent people...

hmmmm.

I KNOW!

Aha! Yes! You had an entire set, once! But, I think you lost a few of them! So, this birthday, I hope you get...

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The beautiful ideals and principles that your were founded on.

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That's my birthday wish for you.

(Whisper) I'm gonna talk to a bunch of my friends and see if we can all chip in and get the whole set of them for you! Y'know, just so you can replace the ones you seem to have lost. They'll be easy to find. They're in our hearts.

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Hey, if you came out to Riverside Park yesterday for the first "Sunday Afternoon Concert" there... THANKS!

What'dya think? It'll be pretty cool, right?

Anyway, listen... today... I was asked to bring my axe over to the dock at 71st Street where they do the FREE kayaking. My buddy, Dennis, is a volunteer over there, and he tells me they're having a kind of a free barbecue or something. The people that run the thing asked if I'd head over and play some music. (What the hell! They seem like fun people and I've been in kind of a music marathon for the past few days. So, I might just head over there... play some songs... meet some new people... have a burger or a hot dog or two.

Whatever you're doing, I hope you have a great time. If you're not doing anything, maybe I'll see you over by the river, today.

Hey... and, check back here everyday, okay? We look at the stats and see that people are visiting this website from all across the country and all around the world. So, if you feel like it this week, you can jump into the "Forum" (message board) and say, "Hi". Talk about whatever you want. Meet each other. Whatever.

Have fun today. I'll see you here all week, and next Saturday...

...I'll be back in Central Park.

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Thanks again.