Good morning, Netizens...

Well, here we are at Fourth of July Eve, if there is such a term. Judging by the number of people who were not available at their workplaces yesterday, I would hazard the guess that as many people as could possibly do so have fled the town, perhaps for the lakes, their cabins in the woods or other vacation destinations. Estimates are that 35 million people are traveling this weekend, which is fine by me so long as they do not descend here. Unfortunately, the nature of my “good day job” is such that I will be sitting either at my desk or out in the field effecting repairs or maintenance throughout the weekend, but that seldom ever changes holiday-to-holiday.

Perhaps the only change to my daily ritual is located in a niche behind the front door. We have an American flag on a pole that has sat there for over a decade, save for various patriotic holidays, including July Fourth. Then, with little pomp nor ceremony, it is reverently removed from its corner and is hung on front of our house, in memory of those who gave their all so that we might live in freedom.

I admit although once we attended the fireworks displays in various places over the years, but such things are now for our grandchildren, and given this year the “Big Show” in Riverfront Park is slated to last 20 minutes, I believe, I suspect we will largely ignore it. Most of the neighborhood dogs and cats will let us know when the aerial bombs start going off, as they always do.

But for me and mine, that flag hanging on the front of my home says it all. A lot of men and women came home in boxes or eked out hellish existences as walking wounded for that flag, and I wish more people honored their efforts by flying their flags on the front of their homes.

Happy Fourth of July

Dave

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