Bucket List Item - #23

For those who don't know, I was actually born in Scotland not the USA. You would never know by my highly American accent and the spatter of y'alls that come out of my mouth. We actually immigrated to Florida in 1984 so I've never really known anything else other than being here. My mom and dad applied for their citizenship but by the time they actually got it, I was past the cutoff for becoming one automatically.

I never really had a reason to go through with the process other than voting but after 9/11 it seemed pretty important. In July of 2006, I became an American citizen. I had to study for the test, read a couple of sentences to the guy at the INS office to prove I could speak english and then waited for the letter with my approval and date for the "swearing in" ceremony.

(If you ever get curious here is the link for the sample test)http://usgovinfo.about.com/blinstst.htm

Most people probably don't know but its a very intense and emotional ceremony where they give you a little American flag to wave while they call out each country in order of how many people are becoming citizens from the most representation to the least. THEN, as they call your country you stand up and wave your little flag, followed by a video from the President congratulating you on being part of the team. I definitely cried a little bit when they mentioned giving up your country for America. Every time I hear "God Bless the USA" by Lee Greenwood, I still get a little bit emotional.

It was at this point I decided to make seeing all 50 states a major lifetime goal! Can't wait to see what the great USA has to offer. We are pretty lucky to live here, if you ever want to complain try visiting a third world country...yikes.

I'm officially halfway to my goal of 50 states. I plan on getting a few each year off this list.

Alabama - complete
Alaska - scheduled for July 2012
Arizona - complete
Arkansas

California

Colorado - complete

Connecticut - complete
Delaware

Florida - complete

Georgia - complete

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois - complete

Indiana

Iowa - complete February 2012
Kansas

Kentucky - complete

Louisiana - complete

Maine

Maryland - complete

Massachusetts - complete

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana
Nebraska - complete February 2012
Nevada - complete
New Hampshire - complete
New Jersey - complete
New Mexico
New York - complete
North Carolina - complete
North Dakota
Ohio - complete
Oklahoma
Oregon - planning for Summer 2012
Pennsylvania - complete
Rhode Island - complete
South Carolina - complete
South Dakota
Tennessee - complete
Texas - complete
Utah
Vermont - complete
Virginia - complete
Washington - planning for Summer 2012
West Virginia - planning for Spring 2012
Wisconsin - complete
Wyoming