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July 3, 2000

It's amazing to think that tomorrow is the 4th of July. When I was a little kid the months seemed to go by at a snails pace. A week seemed like a year to me. Now that I'm older (than dirt), time seems to slip by without my even noticing. Like alot of people, our family will be celebrating the day with a big BBQ. We'll all eat too much, get too much sun, and probably too much pool water too. Most of my family will be here for the BBQ, although one brother and my sister (and their families) won't be able to come.

When I was younger, and all my family lived in the same town, (if not the same house), being together didn't seem all that special to me. Now that I'm older, and I've not lived near family members for years, I've come to appreciate what little time we have together. I was thinking about this today. When I lived in South Carolina I only got to see certain family members once a year, and the other family members once every 2-3 years. Now that I've moved to south Florida it seems the remainder of my family has started the move here. The only relative I have that doesn't live in Florida is my oldest sister, and I'm sure she and her husband will move here in the near future.

I still find myself marveling at my happiness. I guess you never really know how unhappy you are until something happens to wake you up and show you what real happiness can be. Looking back on my life I realize that I haven't experienced this level of happiness in many many years. If I had to pin-point what made me so happy it would be difficult. Just as there are so many things that go into making unhappy, so it goes with being happy. One thing I do know is that having my brothers, their families, and my niece and her family living so near is a large part of my happiness.

Here's hoping your 4th of July is as special as you are!

July 4, 2000

I read this item this morning in Ann Landers column and I knew I had to reprint it here tonight.

"Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence?

Five signers were captured by the British as traitors and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons who served in the Revolutionary Army. Another had two sons captured. Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War. They pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor.

What kind of men were they? Twentyfour were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants. Nine were farmers and plantation owners. All were men of means and well educated, but they signed the Declaration of Independence, knowing that the penalty would be death if they were captured.

Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pays his debts, and he died in rags.

Thomas McKean was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken, and poverty was his reward.

Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Ellery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnet, Heyward, Rutledge and Middleton.

At the Battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson Jr. noted that the British Gen. Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.

The home of Francis Lewis was destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.

John Hart was driven from the bedside of his dying wife. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year, he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children gone. He died shortly thereafter, heartbroken. Morris and Livingston suffered similar fates.

Such were the stories and sacrifices of the American Revolution. These were not wild-eyed, rable-rousing ruffians. They were softspoken men of means and education. They had security, but they valued liberty more."

I read this article with a sense of awe, and a feeling of immense gratitude. Awe at what these men gave up and endured, so that our counry could become free. And gratitude for doing so thorough a job of not only fighting our freedom then, but securing it for future generations as well. I also experienced another feeling as I read this article. Fear. Fear that in the world that we know, how many men (or women for that matter) would risk it all...their lives, their fortunes, their homes and their families to fight for freedom? I fear not many.

Our country has slowly turned into a country of selfish people. Looking out for themselves and thier own interests seems to be most important than helping others. Our first thought isn't "what can I do for someone else", it's "how can I make MY life better?" If we all go on at this rate, what will future generations thank us for? Not much, I'm afraid.

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