Fourth of July

Thank you, Susan, for thinking of this thread. Maybe others will write of their favorite memories of this very special day.

From the ages of 9 through 12, my July 4th afternoon was spent playing baseball for India, of the Henry County Little League. All four teams would play, and we thought we were really hot stuff because we got to play on the Paris Landing State Park ball diamond. This was before the big swimming pool was built, mostly before automobile air conditioners, and a whole lot of homes had no air. I would have turned nine in 1964, and did not have a care in the world. I handled first base. Very few balls got past me, including the ones thrown at me from all over the infield. I had every little kid's vision of being a major leaguer when I grew up, even if I couldn't hit that little ball. That was one day I got to showcase my baseball prowess, in front of strangers, no less.

Win or lose, we always had a family picnic when the games were over. Included in the day's fare were grilled hot dogs, grilled hamburgers, baked beans, watermelon, and homemade ice cream. My Ma was quite the cook, and her picnics were wonderful. Now, try to put me outside on the Fourth of July, and we are going to have problems.....I cannot remember one cross word, one blown temper, not one ugly word being said. People always say things were simpler back then. We will never see those days again, but we really should learn from them.

Thirty years ago, I was into camping and water skiing. If my friends and I did anything....and there were years where we never ventured out where the amateurs and the tourists were, we would hike back into Land Between the Lakes, camp, and never see a soul. What a good time we would have!

Around 1989, I met my wife, and a new tradition was born! While everyone else is at the lake, or doing some partying elsewhere, Jean and I head for the blueberry patch. We try to pick 5 gallons. That is a lot of berries, but with a bowl of cereal in the mornings, or in blueberry muffins, or in blueberry cobbler, or in blueberry crunch, we find we use a lot of blueberries every year. Also, our tradition helps us to stay out of trouble.

233 years ago the British were fought and beaten on America's soil. The Colonists were able to defeat a much more modern military, because they were willing to stick together, plan together, and fight together. I believe we need that mindset, today! I believe that mindset can be found in Paris, Tennessee.

Happy Fourth of July, everyone!