Rich: Happy birthday to this great land

Across the rippling creek and over a bridge with rusty rails, I followed Mama, who was carrying a warm chocolate cake.

Like any four-year-old, I stopped at the center of the bridge, watching the lazy water bubble toward the Chattahoochee.

“Little ‘un, c’mon,” Mama called over her shoulder. I ran to catch up.

Within a couple of minutes, we reached our destination: a small shack with a porch that sagge…