I once heard an “oldie, but goodie” about a woman who went to the doctor’s office, where she was seen by one of the new doctors. But after only about four minutes in the examination room, she burst out, screaming as she ran down the hall.
An older doctor stopped her and asked what the problem was; and she told him her story. After listening, he had her sit down, and told her to go relax in another room. The older doctor then marched down the hallway to the back where the first doctor was, and demanded, “What’s the matter with you? Mrs. Terry is sixty-three years old, she has four grown children and seven grandchildren, and you told her she was pregnant?!”
The new doctor continued to write on his clipboard, and without even looking up, said, “Well, at least she no longer has the hiccups!”
The truth is that one cannot reach a ripe old age without a hiccup or two along the way. Sometimes, the unpleasant experience is brief; at other times, it may last a little longer. But generally, no matter how severe the case may seem at the time, it eventually passes.
I share this because I know a grand old lady who is turning 246 years of age tomorrow. Her name is America! As she approaches her semiquincentennial, or 25th birthday, she may well be described as an “oldie”; but she is also still clearly a “goodie”!
The dictionary offers two definitions for “oldie, but goodie”. The first is: “something that was created a relatively long time ago, but which is still excellent by today's standard.” The second is: “a person who is advanced in years, but is very likable, reliable, helpful, etc…” As I see it, both of these definitions can aptly be applied to America.
Still, as we pause to celebrate her birthday, we do so well aware that she has had many a hiccup along the way. This is because she is not perfect. No nation is. But she has managed to survive and to thrive in spite of her imperfections.
Why is this? Because despite what deficiencies she may have had, she is still the greatest nation the world has ever produced! Whatever hiccups she has endured she has also managed to work her way through. What is more, as a general rule, she has always come away from those experiences healthier than she was when she entered them.
So, on this occasion, I take time to say “Happy Birthday” to a grand old lady – my country! I, for one, am proud to call her my home; and this is because I would rather live right here in her midst than in any other place in this world! As Lee Greenwood put it:
“If tomorrow all the things were gone I'd worked for all my life,
And I had to start again with just my children and my wife,
I'd thank my lucky stars to be livin' here today;
'Cause the flag still stands for freedom and they can't take that away!
And I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free!
And I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me!
And I'd gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today,
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA!
From the lakes of Minnesota, to the hills of Tennessee,
Across the plains of Texas, from sea to shining sea,
From Detroit down to Houston and New York to LA,
Well, there's pride in every American heart,
And it's time we stand and say…
That I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free!
And I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me!
And I'd gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today,
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA!”
I couldn't agree more!
JOKE SOURCE:
Available widely on the internet. Cf.: https://upjoke.com/hiccup-jokes.
DICTIONARY SOURCE:
https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/oldie+but+goodie.
SONG LYRICS SOURCE:
https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/leegreenwood/godblesstheusa.html.
An older doctor stopped her and asked what the problem was; and she told him her story. After listening, he had her sit down, and told her to go relax in another room. The older doctor then marched down the hallway to the back where the first doctor was, and demanded, “What’s the matter with you? Mrs. Terry is sixty-three years old, she has four grown children and seven grandchildren, and you told her she was pregnant?!”
The new doctor continued to write on his clipboard, and without even looking up, said, “Well, at least she no longer has the hiccups!”
The truth is that one cannot reach a ripe old age without a hiccup or two along the way. Sometimes, the unpleasant experience is brief; at other times, it may last a little longer. But generally, no matter how severe the case may seem at the time, it eventually passes.
I share this because I know a grand old lady who is turning 246 years of age tomorrow. Her name is America! As she approaches her semiquincentennial, or 25th birthday, she may well be described as an “oldie”; but she is also still clearly a “goodie”!
The dictionary offers two definitions for “oldie, but goodie”. The first is: “something that was created a relatively long time ago, but which is still excellent by today's standard.” The second is: “a person who is advanced in years, but is very likable, reliable, helpful, etc…” As I see it, both of these definitions can aptly be applied to America.
Still, as we pause to celebrate her birthday, we do so well aware that she has had many a hiccup along the way. This is because she is not perfect. No nation is. But she has managed to survive and to thrive in spite of her imperfections.
Why is this? Because despite what deficiencies she may have had, she is still the greatest nation the world has ever produced! Whatever hiccups she has endured she has also managed to work her way through. What is more, as a general rule, she has always come away from those experiences healthier than she was when she entered them.
So, on this occasion, I take time to say “Happy Birthday” to a grand old lady – my country! I, for one, am proud to call her my home; and this is because I would rather live right here in her midst than in any other place in this world! As Lee Greenwood put it:
“If tomorrow all the things were gone I'd worked for all my life,
And I had to start again with just my children and my wife,
I'd thank my lucky stars to be livin' here today;
'Cause the flag still stands for freedom and they can't take that away!
And I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free!
And I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me!
And I'd gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today,
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA!
From the lakes of Minnesota, to the hills of Tennessee,
Across the plains of Texas, from sea to shining sea,
From Detroit down to Houston and New York to LA,
Well, there's pride in every American heart,
And it's time we stand and say…
That I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free!
And I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me!
And I'd gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today,
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA!”
I couldn't agree more!
JOKE SOURCE:
Available widely on the internet. Cf.: https://upjoke.com/hiccup-jokes.
DICTIONARY SOURCE:
https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/oldie+but+goodie.
SONG LYRICS SOURCE:
https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/leegreenwood/godblesstheusa.html.