Trollbeads: United States World Tour Collection

Welcome to todays Trollbeads' World Tour installment, when we will be visiting the last country on our tour, the United States, also known as the Land of the Free!

Anyone who knows the United States knows this country for its flag, which is in the colors of red, white and blue. Between the flag and good old Lady Liberty (The Statue of Liberty), these were always pure symbols of freedom at its very best for all people from all walks of life from years past when entering New York through Ellis Island. Anyone looking for a shot at a better life looked to this country for a new beginning of sorts. Many of my ancestors did just that and thanks to them I am able to call this great country and New York specifically my home!

Please now watch and enjoy the following Trollbeads video and answer the following question: What is the saying on the postcard which accompanied the Old West Bead?

As I stated, I grew up in the United States, specifically in New York and of course took US History in school. I remember learning that the first White House was in New York back in colonial times, but eventually as the years passed, the US grew in size, and the number of states also grew was moved to Washington DC (which thus became the country's capital). This has been the residence of American Presidents and their families throughout the years. But for some reason, when I picture the White House, I picture only a few select presidents instead of the many that did reside there. Specifically I can see Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) during the Great Depression and WWII giving his Fireside Chats. And yet, I can also clearly see John F Kennedy (JFK) and his young family during the Camelot years. This building therefore holds so much history in its structure that it really does fascinate me.

This silver charm captures the grandeur and history of this building quite nicely. It also proves very nicely how The White House symbolizes strength and perseverance by mimicking the pillars and unique architecture that has made it recognized as a symbol of the United States worldwide.

Yet again, I remember my US History pretty well (I aced this subject in school, because it really did fascinate me). When I think of the Old West, I think of the covered wagons and the Oregon Trail during the time of Lewis and Clark that so many back then took to get yet another a chance for a better life by venturing out westward.

These people years back must have raced through the desert, gazed upon purple mountains under spacious skies, and let the wild spirit of the land of opportunity fill their souls. If you are lucky enough to visit this part of the country, you too can do all this and more.

This silver charm is the image of a cactus and is a plant that can only be found in the deserts in the west. When seeing this charm, I conjure up images of those people that did take to the Oregon Trail in pursuit of the American Dream upon seeing this type of plant for the first time. It must have been truly a sight, just as this charm really is. Still as the American Old West has passed into history, legends of this region have still taken a firm hold in the imaginations of Americans and people the world over.

In the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America back in 1776, it was written that, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

These rights were and are still to this day considered to be unalienable rights. So from as far back as one can go to the beginning of this country, the pursuit of happiness was a major point to the founding fathers. So it is extremely important to Trollbeads that this be the name of this charm, because it is yet another huge symbol of the US and is as American as apple pie and baseball games.

The actual 18-carat gold image of the smiley face is also a wonderful design on Trollbeads part, because the smiley face has been a pop culture symbol of the pursuit of happiness since the 1950s and in the 1970s Philadelphia was further made popular by the graphic image by two brothers (Bernard and Murray Spain). For some reason, I keep thinking of the movie Forrest Gump, with Tom Hanks where he wiped his face only to have the mud print be the smiley face that gave these brothers that ingenious idea. But anyways, have a happy day!

As far back as I can remember, I knew the song the Star Spangled Banner (the poem written in 1814 by Francis Scott Key) and became America's national anthem. If you grew up in the United States in the 20th century, you were told in school to recite the Pledge of Allegiance and the Star Spangled Banner every morning before the start of school in your classroom during morning announcements facing the United States Flag. Even now if you attend any sporting event in the US, such as a Major League Baseball game, both are recited before the game even begins as well. This yet again is as American as the three other charm symbols before it and has been for many years.

This being the only glass charm in the United States collection is absolutely perfect with the featured red,white and blue colors. Seriously, nothing does say United States of America better than the US Flag and these three colors. So it is completely understandable and makes perfect sense why this would be the glass charm for this country. Trollbeads really couldn't have done better here.

It has been my absolute pleasure to tour the United States today in Trollbeads World Tour. If you watched the video, you should have the answer to the original question. I will not give it away here however. This truly has been such an exciting journey for me and the United States concludes this series, but please stay tuned for the next article that I will be writing on some specific beads from Pandora and Trollbeads that I own and have their own specific meanings to me. But for now, as they say in the heart of the southern US, "You all come back now you here, real soon!!"