We were in the Midwest over the Independence Day weekend and saw some beautiful fireworks with the "hometown crowd". The culture is remarkably different from South Florida. People were actually civil to each other!

I've been reading "America, Our Last Best Hope" by William Bennett and the more I learn about the history of our country the more the meaning of our holidays changes for me. Our troops in the Middle East are forefront in my mind (of course) but the fireworks and the echo of the explosions off the surrounding mountains Saturday night (never on a Sunday, here) reminded me of the lyrics Francis Scott Key penned "..and the rockets red glare and bombs bursting in air.." and how much has been invested in our freedom long before we were born. It makes me glad and thankful to be here.