Dawn is breaking as I quietly dress and lace up my walking shoes

The birds are trilling their early morning greetings to the day

I pull the door open and step outside

And breathe in deeply the fresh early morning air

The neighborhood is quiet and mostly still asleep

I see a light inside a house here and there

And only a few cars pass through the area so early

Walking and thinking go hand in hand

Contemplating this world I live in

I notice little things as I walk

The color of the houses

The flowers that are blooming

The small and large improvements being made

This morning I noticed the American Flags throughout the neighborhood

I marveled at how many there are

New flag poles in yards, flags attached to porches, and flag decals on doors

I lost count of how many American Flags are in this small neighborhood

Some that were there a few days ago

And many more that have appeared since

My heart rejoiced to see so many symbols of freedom

Symbols of this great country that we call home

I return home a little more energized

A little more hopeful

Knowing that outside forces will continue to share negative messages

And try to tear us apart

But our little neighborhood tells me that everything will be okay

Because we are all Americans

And that means something special to me

God Bless the USA!