INDEPENDENCE DAY - FREEDOM FOR ALL #MondayBlogs

The 4th of July represents Independence to Americans, freedoms as outlined in the Constitution of the United States
We the People: http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution.html

and the United States Bill of Rights:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Bill_of_Rights

For some, the day conjures up images of Paul Revere ring ... ring ... ringing those freedom bells.

For others, the day offers all-American hot dogs and fireworks.

Whatever Independence means to you, I want to wish you a

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY !!! 

Visually,

Red, White, and Blue

                 signifies the United States of America.

Musically, certain songs will have folks clapping, wolf-whistling, or exchanging high-fives. A select few tunes, anthems almost, bring tears of joy, sorrow, anger, or maybe all three.

Songs on my top-hits list for the fireworks display focus on our Military, the most important reason we are able to exercise and celebrate our RIGHT TO FREEDOM each July 4th:

Merle Haggard's

Fighting Side of Me

(from the Vietnam era: Remember, you can be against war and still support our Military personnel);


Lee Greenwood performing his patriotic

God Bless the USA

Johnny Cash relating

The Ballad of Ira Hayes (a WWII ballad)

Alan Jackson asking

Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning (that September Day)?

One of my photos from Magic Island 4th Fireworks 2009

 

and the irreverent and totally relevant
Toby Keith singing

Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue

to the troops:

Toby Keith Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue

use this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruNrdmjcNTc

ELIXIR: My dreams of youth . . .

12

Elixir 

My dreams of youth

recall an endless ride. 

Freedom to travel the fields

and back roads, racing

across shadows tossed to earth

by pines and ancient oak. 

The sun, a steady companion,

often present, always eager

to return when showers end.

Wind, both friend and foe. 

Youth, the elixir that turns

a long stretch of summer

into a magical adventure.

 

Oh, to relive the magical moments of youth. As with fresh water, I also took my childhood freedom of choice for granted. The most structured or confining part of my early years was the class room with its narrow desks, closed windows, and smothering blackboard. 

Otherwise, I was free to do as I pleased, spending early evenings and week-ends involved in unorganized activities such as baseball, archery, swinging (ah, the freedom!), biking, lawn croquet, and lazy days of swimming at the beach down by Neshotah Park. Thinking back, oh my goodness, such fun we had with simple games like ball-and-jacks, hopscotch, and paddleball. 

A black-and-white photograph, long stored away in some cedar chest or attic, has always stuck in my mind. At a very young age, my siblings and I are running through the sprinkler on the side lawn. This was at the first house we knew as home. Later, Dad built another house, and another, and another, until home didn’t feel so much like home. But this house of my early days has always held a place in my heart. 

The sprinkler in this remembered photograph was shaped like a ring. It shot water high into the air, in all directions of a circle. What fun to skip, splash, and charge through the spray on warm summer days, knowing the sun would always shine brightly, and supper would always be ready for us at five o’clock sharp.