Independence Day

My fondest memory of celebrating Independence Day was when everyone gathered with friends and family and had a cookout, eat watermelon and pop our few firecrackers.  I don’t know about the rest of the country but being from the South it wasn’t always just hotdogs and hamburgers.  We would cook anything and everything we could think of on the grill; chicken, pork chops, sausage, ribs and I even remember a few times thick-sliced bologna being thrown on the grill.

As the years went by we got away from the traditional celebration with friends and family. Everyone stayed at their own homes, watch television and cooked out.  It wind up that I and many others would have to work on “The” most important date in our country’s history.  It seemed to me that the country as a whole was getting away from remembering what this day was all about.  It’s not only about our independence from foreign rule but also the ones that have fought for our freedom and those that are standing guard and fighting today. 

A few years back I felt a yearning for the good times. My wife and I made a cross state trip to spend the 4th with friends we call family to have a big cookout. That will wind up as one of the most memorable fourth’s for me.  This year we got to participate in a town’s parade. I enjoyed meeting people I didn’t know and some I haven’t seen in a while.  After the parade with all our new-found friends we shared hotdogs and watermelon and sat down and talked.  The thought came to me during this time that some others were beginning to think like me; that America is forgetting what the special holidays are really set aside for and concentrating on more of the here and now. Too many are more concerned with trying to get to their destination on time and basking in the sun on a beach or at a lake then actually spending quality time with their family and smiling at their American brothers and sisters on the way.

As American’s lets never forget the real meaning of this special day. Take a moment out of your busy schedule and give God above thanks for His glorious bounty of this great nation. And don’t forget to say a prayer for those that stand guard over us as we sleep.  “Thus saith the Lord, stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls…” (Jeremiah 6:16) Everyone have a great 4th of July and let’s never forget.

TO TELL THE TRUTH

You and I both know that the Internet is already chocked full of people who try to be something or someone they aren’t. I like to call them as I see them, “Liars.” or in a scientific terms. “An individual whom has the inability to distinguish facts of whom they are to exalting themselves to something they are not.” In other words, “Liars.”

Recently I came across someone’s profile on a website that I knew and every other sentence was a total lie. They had a BS degree and they wouldn’t disclose what they had a BS degree in. Why in the world would someone profess to be something they’re not? I’m sure it’s because it makes them look great to the world outside, but around home everyone has already figured them out. I never call anyone “Worthless” because God still made him or her just like He made me and you. And I still believe that God has never made any junk. People make themselves into junk.

When you buy a new car it’s up to you to keep it clean and serviced. The dealership isn’t going to come to your house everyday and clean it for you. It’s yours now and it’s your responsibility. That’s the way I feel God is toward us. It’s your life do what you can with what you have, but don’t abuse it or turn it into junk. Besides we’re all just a repo waiting to happen.

If and when people meet this person it doesn’t take long for them to figure out what this person is all about, especially when they are seen driving up in a beat up old car with maybe plastic over a window that had been broken out. (Couldn’t help but laugh at myself for visioning that one.) Do you reckon these people ever have a clue of what others think and say behind their backs? Honestly, I don’t think they do as long as they have something to say or someone to blame it on. It is always someone else’s fault why they lost their job, why their husband or wife left, why they don’t have something, anything. I asked someone one time what happened to their car. They told me that the bank bought it from them because someone was interested in buying it. What’s worse is the fact that they not only told me but they told everyone that. Worse still was the fact that they thought everyone had really believed it. In the famous words of Larry the Cable Guy, “Now that’s funny right there I don’t care who you are.”

I’m going to tell the truth. I have and do lie. I’ll lie tomorrow. But the difference between the lies I tell and the lies “some” others tell is that I know my lie will be found out. For instance, I lie to my wife every year on Mother’s Day, her birthday, our anniversary and of course Christmas. But I know in a few days she is going to find out the truth and that I lied. But I love her and I love surprising her. If I have to lie to keep a surprise from someone I love then I am guilty. Some people will tell a lie hoping it will never be found out. Chances are you’ll have to tell another lie just to get out of the lie you told in the first place.

It’s amazing that people have found out that on the world wide web they can have a doctor’s degree making six or seven figures a year. Okay. I’m not that person. But what I am is a loving person. I have this strong urge to tell people especially those around me that I love them.

Why? Because if we never meet again I want that to be the last thing they hear from me. So blogger world I want you to know that, “I love you.” Have a great day! And that’s no lie

WEEK OF MEMORIES

Ever have one of those weeks when a lot of things happened in your life in the past all in one week? This week is the week for me.  June 8th my oldest brother turned ?.  Okay, I know but I’m not telling.  I didn’t forget to wish him a happy birthday though. 

If my parents were alive on June 9th they would have been married for 55 years.  They were married for 48 years before my father passed away in May 2004.

 Even though my brother wasn’t the oldest of the siblings we use to tease my parents by saying he was born on June 8th and mama and daddy got married on the 9th.  Daddy would laugh about it and mama would get on to us and tell it correctly. 

 And it’s still fresh in my memory of when I lost my oldest sister to cancer on June 10, 2005. She was only 48 years old. That’s why I would like to do my part in helping to fight and win the war on cancer.  My novel, “Woman of Courage” isn’t about her but I did have her in mind while writing.  I also had several other people in mind that were close to us that we lost to cancer. 

 Recently I got an email from someone and the song playing in the background was “Memories” by Elvis Presley.  I found myself captivated more by the song than the poem that was attached to it.  “Memories, pressed between the pages of my mind; Memories sweetened through the ages just like wine…” When you have a chance look it up and take a listen. 

 I think long and often of things my parents would say. Advice they would give. I have found myself saying many times I know why mama and daddy did this or said that.  We have video now so it’s wonderful to get the old Christmas videos out and look and listen to their voice one more time. 

This is not a tough week for me as some would think. I count it as a good week. It’s a good week of memories.

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