A Mellow Brick Road...: Sweet Land Of Liberty

Today we celebrate our nation’s Independence Day, a day of observance of great sacrifices and great struggles to sustain a noble human experiment of freedom and the pursuit of happiness. We honor all those who have sacrificed and struggled, and those who continue to do so, including our family and friends, and we enjoy a celebration on this day to memorialize that honor. Someday, Mommy and Daddy have no doubt, the two of you will yourselves make sacrifices and join the struggles to realize the ideals upon which our nation was built.

Our celebration today took the form of a cook-out, and what a grand cook-out it was: Brother Sean Franky was there, Sister Kelly and Brother Aaron (and for a short visit, Karma) joined us, GiGi and GiPa and Grandmoo came (you two insisted Grandmoo come over to join the celebration even though she was dog-sitting Pepper, so she brought Pepper along with herJ, the gathering would have been perfect if Grandpa, Great Papaw and Brother Ryan and Sister Holly could have been with us too!

Mommy outdid herself (like she always does!) and really had quite a layout for us, Daddy grilled hot dogs, and hamburgers, and brat-burgers on the grill, GiGi and GiPa brought watermelon, roasting ears, and cheese potatoes—it really was a wonderful feast. It was hotter than the dickens (Daddy is not certain of the origin of that expression, but it was (and has been for weeks) hot, hot, hot!!! Normally, fireworks are part of the celebration of Independence Day, but with the dry conditions and heat there has been a general ban on fireworks and most firework plans were cancelled. We were going to let the two of you have some sparklers, and Mommy and Daddy are revolutionaries enough for sure to rebel against the fireworks ban, but our house is so close to our neighbors, we decided it would be truly irresponsible to take any chances. The two of you, nonetheless, frolicked in the water sprinkler and baby pools and had your own outdoor festival and we all laughed and watched the two of you with joy. At one moment, though, things got serious as you fell against a decorative fence, Buddha, and really bruised your eye (it came seriously close to cutting your eye!!!), you are such a doggone (Daddy doesn’t know about that expression either) daredevil!!!!

We all had a blast, and truly we are so exceptionally blessed!!!

Earlier in the day, Daddy and Bodhi started the day much earlier than Mommy and Buddha, and we enjoyed our breakfast of chocolate milk, strawberries, toast, a hard-boiled egg and black coffeeJ. After you and Mommy got up and moving, Buddha, you joined Daddy and your Gypsy Princess sister and we watched Rio for the 8 millionth timeJ. Daddy mowed the yard and frankly barely survived the heat, and Mommy made us all lunch. Bodhi, you and Daddy made a run to buy Buddha a bed pillow, and returned home hoping you would nap some before our evening cook-out, but as usual lately your nap was quite shortL.

After our cook-out celebration, Mommy gave the two of you a bath and Bodhi you immediately went off to bed; in a bit of role reversal, Buddha, you came downstairs asking for your Daddy and we watching a Washington, D.C. 4^th of July television special as you fell asleep on Daddy’s lapJ. Like Daddy said, and will always acknowledge, we are truly blessed, especially Daddy!!! Happy 4^th of July!!! Night, night.

Ok, put your arms around each other so I can take your 4th of July picture... well, ummm, ok!

"Momma, this is what I think of your 4th of July picture!"

Sister Kelly told you and your sister to give the neighbors across the street the "Stank eye," they were scoping out Sister Kelly's jeep, touching it, and looking inside. Interestingly enough, Daddy has been watching them for some time... they were all arrested for burglaries recently.