July the Fourth 2017

What does it mean to you

Do you remember why and how we became free

Do you remember the cost

for

The freedom to be who you want to be

Freedom of speech

The right to bear arms

The right to assemble

and more

Are you grateful


Thomas Jefferson said,

"A government big enough

 to give you everything you want,

is big enough

to take away everything you have."

MS Clip Art photo

©2017 poem Red Convertible Travel Series

July 4th Gunshot Celebrations

    image courtesy of nirots/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Clarksdale Press Register article 6/26/13

   "It's something that we've grown accustomed to during the last few years. The 4th of July and New Years being rung in by the sounds of gunshots mixed in with the bottle rockets, Black cats and Roman Candles. The sheriff's deputies and Clarksdale police officers alike will surely be chasing calls in the hundreds as citizens make reports concerning the celebratory sounds they are hearing next week.
   "Not that the geniuses that actually decide it's a good idea to fire weapons into the air are actually reading the newspaper, but hopefully others that can pass on this message, 'GUNSHOTS FIRED INTO THE AIR HAVE TO COME DOWN SOMEWHERE! THEY DON'T JUST DISAPPEAR!'
   "The bullets travel up to a mile into the air (depending on the angle) and fall back to the earth at terminal speed.
   "If we're lucky enough not to be hit by the returning bullets, they can still damage property and cause major repair bills.
   "We celebrate the 4th of July to honor those who had to fire guns in order to protect our freedoms. Don't dishonor them by firing yours needlessly."

2013 Red Convertible Travel Series

Remembering. Memorial Day 2013

We are One Nation Under God 

indivisible 

with liberty and justice for all.

 Remembering the many who gave their all
Appreciating their sacrifice and our freedom.

 Remembering the soldiers closest to my heart
scared, brave, courageous
 night sweats, malaria bouts, nightmares, regrets, guilt,
standing for the Pledge of Allegiance with hand over heart,
deep love of the USA

 Honoring the named,
the unknown who didn't come home
the families without closure

Remembering the far away and long ago
General Patton buried with his men

2013 Red Convertible Travel Series

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY 2011!!!!!

I hope you celebrate our FREEDOM happy and safe!

Impromptu Pearl Party and July 4th

Happy July 4th to you and yours.

I was packing dishes for goodwill when Bernie came back from Chicago and Chris arrived from the East Coast. We had to have a pearl party. Never mind my extra dishes were loaded in the car for good will.

My third trip to goodwill to donate leftovers from my garage sale I found eight huge green glass goblets just right for gazpacho that coordinated with the dishes I had planned to give away. A good thing I didn't. They worked well with Monet and dark green placemats.

The Essential Vegetarian Cookbook provided the gazpacho recipe. Plenty of fresh tomatoes, cucs and tomato juice serve as the base with chopped stoplight peppers, onion and garlic. A dollop of sour cream on top and homemade garlicy croutons completed the presentation. Yummy and comfortably filling.

A pitcher of fresh squeezed lemon juice allowed each to make their own lemonade with honey. A simple pleasure. So what if I served ice cubes with salad tongs.

We caught up on each other's news. Chris kayaks and has learned to sail off the East Coast. Bernie returns to Chicago next week to begin radiation treatments. It was a time to celebrate each other's accomplishments and offer support. We're our own Yah Yah Sisterhood AKA Pearl Girls.

Deep in my hutch I found eight clear yellow dessert plates just right for a slice of homemade Suzane Somer's New York Style Cheesecake with Raspberry Coulis and a fresh strawberry fanned by Chris. And she stayed to help with dishes, God Bless her.

July 4th reminds us to treasure our simple pleasures, our freedom and take nothing for granted. I hope you have a safe Holiday.

2010 Red Convertible Travel Series

July 4th, 2008 Fireworks & Fundamentals

MSN photo

Our freedom to worship as we please, speak our mind, go where we please, become all we can be is what the United States of America is about. Democracy allows us the opportunity to be represented. I pray our United States of America stays united forever.

Over the 4th I'm going to Mississippi for a goat roast. And probably some goat rodeo, too. There's a story or two in the making.

I hope you have a safe, Happy 4th of July. God Bless.

2008 Red Convertible Travel Series

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY

msn photo

Watermelon is as much the 4th of July as fireworks. Bite into it's refreshing coldness. The juice slips down your chin, your elbows, the front of your shirt. Everything gets sticky.

At a picnic we watched a man spit a couple watermelon seeds down the front of a woman's blouse. She didn't say anything, but her eyes narrowed in anger. We could tell she was thinking how to get even. She circled behind him, wrapped her slice around his neck and squeezed.

Whatever you do, celebrate freedom. It's ours and it's precious.

copyright 2007 Red Convertible Travel Series

Remembering

MSN photo

Memorial Day: the day set aside to remember those who fought and died for freedom; those who fought and survived; those who sacrificed to support them; and family and friends who died unrelated to wars. Thank you all for your contribution to life.

We hang our flag and remember receiving one when Papa died. He did his time in the Pacific Theatre of WWII. For the past two weeks JB has been a patient at the VA hospital in Omaha, NE. He's amazed the operating surgeons visit him everyday. Dedicated staff, they live and breathe their work. Over all, it's been a positive experience. We are grateful. God Bless them.

copyright 2007 Red Convertible Travel Series

Happy 4th of July, 2006
Celebrate Freedom!!!!!

MSN photo

MSN photo

Thanks to the fallen and to those who serve.

verse copyright 2005 Red Convertible Travel Series

USA Memorial Day

At Bitburg, Germany we met a man who, as a child, had helped his dad in food service and served General Patton. The General complimented this twelve-year old making a lasting impression on him. He glowed with pride and told us where to find Patton's grave. A fellow from our home community had been on the Color Guard for his burial.

At the American Cemetery and Memorial in Hamm, Luxemborg we stood at Patton's grave not set apart from his men, but with them as he wanted. It was a warm day. From a marble bench we prayed for and thanked them and left puddles of sweat. Our contribution would dry up, but theirs was permanent.

Solemnly we walked above the Normandy Beaches. Posted signs caution against walking below as there are still unexploded mines. This day all was silent, even the visitors. Back at our Auberge our host twisted up his face and said he'd seen more than he could talk about.

At Colleville Sur Mer the 170 acre American cemetery holds the remains of those who contributed their all to the cause of freedom. The American director said the perfectly aligned crosses are set in a trench of concrete.

At Dachau, Germany we spoke with the President of the Survivors. "He said he was there to be sure the ovens were never again lit for that purpose." To our surprise he was not a bitter man inspite of his parents and first wife dying while all were imprisoned. He married again and they had a son. The Press arrived to interview him. He laughed and said to watch him make a fool of himself.

Our bellies in our throats we walked through the crematorium trying not to imagine its horrors. Images surfaced anyway remembering the words of a fellow from our home that was here liberation day. "They were so emaciated we couldn't tell the men from the women. An American soldier threw a piece of candy that landed in the barbed-wire. Naked prisoners dove in risking deep cuts and scratches; anything for a bite of food."

My late husband was a generation older than I and a WWII veteran plagued with nightmares and bouts with malaria. When he passed on I hoped his meeting with the Creator would go like so:

Seen the horrors of war, dear one,

The man began to weep

No more, no more! the Good God cried

I'm granting you Grace and Peace

In death their souls have returned to God to be rewarded and made whole. Grace and Peace to all who have fought, and who do fight for freedom.

copyright 2005 Red Convertible Travel Series