Citizenship November 9th, 2011

6am. I have been living back in England for just over three months and I have had to make (another) a whirlwind trip to Tampa to be sworn in as an American Citizen. After twenty two years of living in the United States, having two American children and paying taxes, I felt it was my indeed my right and an imperative to have the US as an optional abode in my future. I didn't realise how strongly I felt about this until I was challenged by Border Control going in to Boston several weeks ago who threatened to take away my green card as I spent so much time out of the country. As it happens, the lovely folks at Border Control in Miami didn't even raise an eyebrow when I came through yesterday so I have had several weeks of heavy fretting for no reason....whew!

So today, November 9th 2011, I will be sworn in with several hundred other men and women who each have their own unique story of how they have got to this day. I am humbly aware of how much pain and endurance has been suffered and the many that didn't make it.Cubans drowning as they try to make it across the perilous watery seas in man made rafts. Mexicans sneaking through on the backs of trucks, cars, through the dangerous borders and Asylum speakers who have dared to speak out against their government in defense of the their rights. How emotional a day it must be for them.

8am. So here I am surrounded by my 'fellow pledgees'. So many dressed in their best clothes with their families surrounding them for this momumentous celebration. How I wish I had not chosen to do this alone! So as I sit here, I have a lump in my throat remembering the first days on American soil back in 1988, the risks I took to try something new, have children in a country other than my own and my ongoing love-hate relationship with this country when I missed my homeland, which will now just be replaced with love.

As a US Citizen I now wave my Amerian flag with pride, God Bless Amercia!!!!!!!!!