Hand to Heart.

Three times a day (on our tiny Air Force Base), the "Giant Voice" reminds us what time it is. At 0730, reveille plays, reminding us how friggin early it is ... Then, many acceptable hours later, at 1700 (5pm, people), they play the retreat and the national anthem. At 9am (2100), they play Taps, which happens to be my favorite part of the day (not just cause I get a few seconds to think of our fallen men, but also, becuase all three of my children are finally in bed) ...

Regardless ... I've been working to teach my children everyday Southern manners. I was taught them, and so shall they be. HOWVEVER ... I was NOT raised military ... ish (my dad did some good time in the Army, and very often I feel like a military brat, just becuase of my background .... regardless ...) ...

On our military base, at five o'clock on the DOT you must STOP everything you're doing and salute the American flag. Recognize the National Anthem. If you're driving, you pull to the side of the road. If you're walking, you stop and put your hand straight to your chest. Well, I've been teaching my children since we've lived here how to respesct the anthem (although, everytime I hear the speaker turn on , I run toward the nearnest door and hide, waiting for it to all be over!)

Regardless of my dissappearance during the five o'clock salute, my children have sufficiently learned to respect the flag and it's anthem.

Each evening (generally while I'm preparing dinner and whatnot), my kids throw the door open to report to me that it's time for "Hand to Heart" ..)

(Winter is easier in this aspect, because we don't play in Missouri snow very often ... )

So. We "enjoy" the National Anthem every weekday. Savannah has her response down pat. "Hand to heart," she says. Every time. Then when Benjamin is near her, he does his best to " hand to heart ... Although ... he's only proving to me that a man can only be found through his tummy .... I suppose we'll see ...