Charlotte, NC

HAPPY JULY 4TH, CHARLOTTE!!

I hope your holiday plans are workin’ out the way you want ‘em to! For myself — well, there’s a big, juicy watermelon from Food Lion that’s got my name on it (ahem … they didn’t see me with the magic marker when I was in the store a coupla days ago)!

The fireworks tonight are gonna be nothing short of amazing … and, for some reason, an ice-cold Pepsi’s gonna feel reallll gooooood washin’ down a few grilled hot dogs!

Of course, we all have great memories of Independence Days long past. Whether it was taking in the fireworks display with your girl-or-boyfriend/companion/mate/family/tax auditor or just lounging in the back yard, waiting for Dad to burn .. er, cook up the hamburgers, it was a cherished experience. That’s one of the reasons why the Day is so important for our children; it builds a relaxing, color-filled experience that they’ll remember for the rest of their lives. It’s one they’ll undoubtedly want to carry with them and share with their kids some day …

And, all during the I-Day week, there’s still gonna be a lot to see and do. One event’s taking place this Saturday at the Center City Green Market, when folks are getting together to honor our firefighters and police. Called Heroes’ Day, it’ll feature the Firefighter’s “Red, White and Blueberry Pancakes” Breakfast. Y’all come on down and show your support for these folks who risk their lives on a daily basis. Of course, you’ll wanna come hungry! The Market opens at 8 AM.

Now, we tend to forget that, despite the War going on in and around Iraq, the gas prices being higher-than-ever and “security alerts” becoming the norm here in the US, we’re still a free people. We can move from one location to the other without worrying about getting permission, speak our minds to Congressmen and local Commissioners without fear of being harassed or jailed, and worship however and whomever we please without being “shut up” or “shut down.”

This country’s as free as we wanna make it, folks. And, thanks to the freedom we already have, the opportunity’s there to make it just a little better … for ourselves … for our families … for our neighbors, both locally and nationally … and for our children.

For that, we can be most thankful.

So, once again, lemme say HAPPY JULY 4th, CHARLOTTE!