Today, the great American holiday the Fourth of July is somewhat dampened on the Eastern coast of the country. Hurricane Arthur is in the midst of its lumber north toward Canada. Here in Mansfield, roughly a third of the way up from Providence heading north to Boston it is overcast. The rains are due in a couple of hours…
On Facebook one of my friends, and one I like to think of in a genuinely friendly way even though, as best I recall we’ve never actually met in meatworld, is lamenting the heavy security at the moved forward Boston Pops & Fireworks celebration of the Fourth in Boston, last evening. While from my view he’s on the young side, nonetheless he recalls older days where such events were not packed with people with guns looking closely at the crowd. He fears the security state. As do I. Although I take a slightly more nuanced view of the particulars. We are only a tad more than a year from a terrorist attack in that city, of course. And, and, I too, fear a security state…
As the old Chinese curse goes we are living in interesting times.
For those wanting an update on our family move into the apartment. My back continues to be sore. I’m beginning to wonder how long I can megadose myself with anti-inflamatories. Jan and I’ve not had a single big fight, although there have been a snip or two along the way. Auntie isn’t fully her cheerful self and the cats, well the less said about the cats’ mood, the better.
Last night we had our first dinner prepared here. Tilapia “oven fried,” with sauteed squash and a green salad. Chocolate for desert. Over the last couple of weeks I’ve completely lost control of the “diet.” Climbing back on the wagon today…
Not that it is over. Not by a long shot.
Still a lots of odds and ends to get from the house and here. Tomorrow we do a big bit clean up, much stuff to go to Savers and the dump. Two burley youngsters are coming over and with a pick up all should move apace. I think we’ll have all the big bits done by tomorrow night. Jan, generally acknowledged as the smart one in the family, seems to think not. Whatever, we do see the promised land of being done with this on the horizon.
This is the morning pause.
And on this liberation day I feel pretty deeply the move. I’m certainly thinking of the apartment as our base and the house as a was.
I’m mourning a bit the immediate loss, and more the larger ones for which this is but the beginning.
And, pretty throughly enjoying the process.
Sore back and all…
Oh.
One more thing.
Based on current events, some seem to have forgotten the words engraved at the base of the statue of liberty. For those wanting a reminder, Emma Lazarus’ words, which together with the preamble to the Declaration of Independence and the Gettysburg Address, are, for me, what the American Dream is all about…
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
Long may the republic of our dreams live!
May we strive to live that dream into reality…
And with that fond wishes for a happy Fourth to all!
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In