The Fourth of July

This coming week we celebrate the Fourth of July, our nation's birthday.

Growing up the Fourth meant the biggest celebration of the year in our small town of Aberdeen, NC, located along the Norfolk/Southern railroad line & next door to Southern Pines. My uncle, editor of the local paper and Speaker of the House in the '60's, came up with the idea & was a proud supporter of the festivities, helping in organizing and carrying out the day long activities.

A huge parade through the small business district began mid morning & was followed by speeches given by the mayor, the Jaycee's, & local politicians, and usually Miss N.C. would appear. Then games of all sorts, including horseshoes, sack races, a greasy pole contest, tennis, and so forth, would commence next to Aberdeen Lake & continue through the afternoon. Refreshments galore were available; hot dogs, cotton candy, drinks, ice cream, etc. In the evening, along with a street dance, the Miss Aberdeen pageant would be held at the nearby school, and for the finale, as everyone congregated by the lake once again, fireworks were set off over the lake, bursting into diamonds & sparkles & glitter, sealing a grand day of community fun & revelry.
We came & stayed all day & into the evening:)

The Aberdeen celebration has dwindled to fireworks & refreshments.
But my love for the Fourth and especially fireworks over a lake sends me to Regency here in Cary any time I can convince my family to brave the crowds.
I love the patriotic music and the sparkles in the sky:)
Our nation's birthday!
Glorious!

Reminising this week

Thursday morning I traveled to the little white church where my mama spent her childhood & where my Stewart, Blue, Cameron, etc. ancestors are buried, Cypress. The funeral for my mama's dear friend & cousin, Sarah Black McFadyen Barnes, was being held at 11 am. For the first time I was the only representative of my family, my mama Catherene's family, and it was an eerie feeling...

Sarah Black was always part of my mama's childhood life & storytelling, and I ran into her every now and then at reunions & weddings, anniversary parties & funerals. An elegant, pretty lady, never without a twinkle of 'mischief' in her eye, always laughing & telling some tale or adventure she & "Catherene" had or had instigated.

Bagpipes led us to the graveside. I stood apart from the group, standing on my daddy's grave, as the pastor gave his final words to Sarah Black's family before lowering her casket into the ground. Two uncles & a cousin of mine are buried between my daddy's grave (& my mama's in the future) and Sarah Black's. Sadness overwhelmed me. It was the ending of an era when cousins were your neighbors and closest friends & your history was a powerful bond. The end of lifelong friendships for my mama's generation. Sadness that Mama's memory can't fathom that Sarah Black has died. Sadness that Mama doesn't know who my sister & brothers & I are anymore.

But, I came away with another adventure story. Sarah Black and Catherene were in the tobacco barn one Sunday afternoon rolling cigarettes for a trial run with smoking. Evidently Sarah Black went to light the cigarettes, & set her hair on fire! I bet neither of them ever tried cigarettes again!

Sunday morning

Haven't written in a while. Time flies by so quickly! Today is Father's Day which promises to usher in hot weather, summertime weather. This past week seemed long & tiring but while walking this morning I realized it would be a good thing to jot down some of my blessings lately--to give me a better perspective.

Gardenia's are blooming:)
Every morning last week was cool:)
We had rain:)
My coffee tastes so good every morning:)
Wyatt LOVES his morning walk--he leaps & jumps & sniffs & greets everyone:)
My family is healthy:)
My mama didn't fall all week & I had a good visit with her Saturday morning:)
My manager Yvonne & I had a tasty (but wet) lunch in downtown Apex Wednesday:)
Peace softball ended last Tuesday but what a wonderful time we had all season:)
My friend Angela moved into her new house this week & her dad bought her a lawn mover:)
Skye & I took Wyatt to get his nails clipped & a shampoo--we walked to Target, then ate supper at Qdoba's. Wyatt had a good time. Skye & I had a good time:)
My friend Kathy & I had lunch Thursday. She is in Vt. this morning enjoying a vacation:)
My friend Lorraine is in Pa. celebrating a family wedding:) She & I met for a brief visit Tuesday:)
My friend Nancy just returned from Fla. where she attended a family wedding:)
My family is celebrating Father's Day at The Loop today:)
Seth & Skye took my garage junk to the North Wake landfill last Sat.:)
I have a new (old) cabinet for my pottery & a new bench for my bay window:)
We had rain:)
Skye watched CSI with Keith and me last night:) (Her friends are out of town:))
My friend Lou gave me good advice twice this week--she's such an encourager:)

Have a wonderful warm June week. Take comfort that God is in charge & He is good:)

Penguin's feet

I heard about a new book just out called "Why Don't Penguin's Feet Freeze?":)
Have you ever thought about that??
Well, when the scientist explained that a penguin's feet have a unique circulation system that keeps them at a temperature just above freezing---the exact temperature he needs for his environment---I just couldn't help but praise God. He's such a god of detail & perfection, even how those cute little penguin feet can function so perfectly--whoa!
Ponder that one today!