For today’s playoff games, Jordan Sparks and Martina McBride sang the Star Spangled Banner to open the games (respectively).

They.  Kicked.  Ass.

There’s something about our national anthem that totally gives me chicken plucks.  I think I could hear it every single day, and the response would be the same.  My arms and legs are covered with chicken plucks, and I have to fight back the tears that well up in my eyes.  I have no rational explanation for such a response….other than loving my country – but I don’t know what it is about the song that manifests a physical reaction without fail.

Sometimes people sing the national anthem, who really shouldn’t.  And there’s a sense of dread for when they get to the red glaring rockets….because you know it’s going to be unbearably painful to both your ears and your heart.

That gives me chicken plucks too…but when it’s a bad thing, we typically just call it “making your skin crawl.”