This is my first diary and in all likelihood my last. Typically the things that are running through my mind are expressed far more eloquently by the wonderful writers and wry observers who populate this site, but today I had a unique experience.

Today I walked out of church about a third of the way through the service. A soloist was performing "God Bless the USA." I have always found that song to be especially cloying, but when I noticed it listed in the bulletin I decided to attempt to tolerate it. And I might have managed to do just that had not one or two individuals prompted the entire congregation to stand.