June 14th 1777, the Continental Congress adopted “the Stars and Stripes” as the official American Flag. We thus honor National Flag Day.
To commemorate the occasion, I have the book “Flags of the World” by E.M.C. Barraclough, 1965. This is a great book about flags. The author gives the history of flag lore: all the different flags evolved in America, including every state’s flags; all the flags evolved in England, including the various private flags of The queen of England (different in each country she rules over); along with flags and their stories, of countries around the world. Even yacht flags, signal flags, merchant ship flags, and flags of International Organizations. Also stated and shown are 340 flags in full color, and 400 other drawings. A book just to thumb through for an evening.
But really important is the book “Partners All-Places all! Forty-Four Enjoyable Square and Folk Dances for Everyone” by Miriam H. Kirkell and Irma K. Schaffnit, 1951. One can easily learn to square dance with the directions within. There are instructions for the caller, the guys and girls dancing, how to dance various styles, music, and even the words for songs, and callers. One can really Do-Si-Do with this fun how to manual. An added plus are the neat illustrations of dancers throughout the book.
This June 14th, is my wife’s and my forty-fourth anniversary. For many of our anniversaries, I have bought a book that uses the years of our marriage in the title. I also try to find some connection with the book and the specific anniversary. This gift is a yearly ritual to my wife (that strangly gets presented back to me for the library), on our anniversary. Then, whether just with us alone, or among friends, I will read a little, then give a toast to my lovely wife.
I was lucky enough to not only have my wife present for this toast, but also a handful of our very best friends. I was proud to publicly state my anniversary love with such witnesses. For this toast-our forty fourth, I remarked that learning to dance is very much like…how…to handle…and improve…our marriage. If I may quote the authors:
“Remember-there’s nothing difficult about this. Anyone who can walk can do these dances. It certainly helps to have a sense of rhythm and to know right from left, but you can learn even this, painlessly, while you’re having fun. Smile, relax, and take things easily. Give or read the directions simply, and demonstrate… Be patient, and don’t push or shove each other around. Everybody makes mistakes; It’s all part of the fun.”
It HAS been fun…Happy Anniversary, Marylyn!
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