A True American Citizen

I have been off in Florida and not writing my blog, visiting friends and daydreaming; sitting in the sun watching the ocean; sitting in the shade watching birds.  Enjoying "The Mikado" and quiet.  No one yelled,  "Mom" at me for 168 hours, and I was left alone even when in the bathroom.  My brother had albums and boxes of photographs that I went through, and I took some home with me.  He lives in Honduras, and memories sit  in storage, so I thought I might bring them home to put them in some arranged order.
In one beautiful carved box there was a fine old ribbon around some papers.  They were the precious papers Oma saved  commemorating her day becoming an American Citizen.  She had studied all kinds of information about the American form of government, she knew the language, and she was ready for the test.

 She would  be the oldest, but she did not want to be the least prepared, so even though not a requirement she learned all the presidents in order.  I recall her telling me to listen to her recite them. I recall her telling me the Emma Lazaras poem, written on the Statue of Liberty,
      Give me your tired, your poor,
      Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
      The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
       Send these, the homeless tempest-tossed to me,
       I lift my lamp beside the golden door!

She had a chance to recite this to the judge and all the others who were taking their oath of citizenship,  which made her very proud to show how much she knew about her new country.  She always intended to be an informed, knowledgeable citizen.  I was very proud of her.  The story of my citizenship later.

note her name is misspelled!

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