July 4, 2008, 10:28 p.m., D.S.T., Nashville, TN~

Dear Journal~

Bill Sandusky here.  Just got back not even ten minutes ago; just finished getting the last of the kids inside, and into their rooms, where they are getting ready for their bedtimes (or at least, I'm hoping they are! LOL).

We had a most productive, wonderful day.  We left for the Nashville Fourth of July Blast! Fireworks and Festival after the parade, which started promptly at nine; the parade was over by 11.  Lots of floats, military units, even a band or two, marching (or riding) along the parade route.  We were in the parade; if we were not on floats, some (like Gemini, Porter, Geraldo, Danita, and Trude) were actually marching in the parade, either playing instrauments, or, as in Gemini's case, twirling two batons for the thrilled parade attendees lining the parade route.

Before the parade started, they had a military flyover:  four F-18's and a B-1 bomber flew overhead; that got the crowd to its feet.  It was spectacular!

Once the traffic congestion from the parade eased off somewhat, we headed for downtown Nashville, where the Fourth of July Blast! Festival continued in earnest.  Today was the big day:  Carrie Underwood and Kellie Pickler were the big draw before the fireworks; the fireworks were to start immediately after the concert, which they did.  The display was one of the biggest that Nashville had ever seen:  it lasted a good solid forty five minutes; it was the longest one I can remember.  They were absolutely mind-boggling, truly spectacular!

I know the kids enjoyed it (well, the littler ones didn't; the noise of the rockets bursting overhead hurt tender little ears, plus Johnathon's hearing aids squealed; he had to turn them off, so it wouldn't further damage his already-damaged hearing); I know for a fact that Louie and I did.  We were in our glory; we were both taking pictures of the fireworks as they bloomed overhead like multi-colored flowers.

The kids whooped and hollered the entire time; they were loving it!!

Johnathon and Ronee' performed as part of the patriotic program:  Johnathon did "The Star Spangled Banner"; Ronee' sang "God Bless America"; they both did a fantastic job.  We were all so proud of them!

Before the concerts, we ate a picnic-style lunch:  had hot dogs, barbequed Cajun-style chicken legs, potato salad, three bean salad, cole slaw, jello molds (cherry or raspberry), and for drinking, bottled water or soda pop.  The kids (and we) stuffed ourselves to the gills; we soon laid around like fat, lazy slugs, waiting for our food to digest before the patriotic music.  We know we laid there on our blankets for over an hour and a half, feeling miserable for eating like pigs! LOL

We waited in traffic probably a half hour; it wasn't as bad as we expected.  We were out of there within five/ten minutes max; we would have been out a little sooner, but a car a few lengths up from us broke down, had a flat tire; that held up traffic; once we got around the disabled vehicle, we were sailing free!  We were so blessed not to have gotten in a terrible accident or in a he**acious traffic jam!

So that was our Fourth of July experience.  No breakdowns, no kid-type meltdowns (everyone behaved themselves [for the most part, anyway! LOL]), and certainly no major traffic tie ups to further complicate things.  Also, no injuries from fireworks or firecrackers; nothing more than some sunburned people (Johnathon mainly; he's so red he's practically glowing! LOL), minor allergy attacks, or bites from mosquitoes, fire ants, or flies.

Well, I am getting sleepy myself, so I think I'm going to turn in for the night.  I will write again soon; until next time, hope your Fourth of July celebrations were safe, full of fun and fireworks, and the love of family, friends, and freedom!  God bless y'all mightily, and Happy Birthday, America!!

~Love, your friend, Bill. :D

P.S.:  I forgot to write about why I'm proud to be an American.  For one thing, we're free.  Free to do as we wish, be whatever we want to be, say what we feel has to be said (good or bad, mind you, but we're free to make that choice), and free to celebrate as we see fit, without fear or risk of offending someone else (although lately, that's starting to be questioned).

I'm also proud to be an American because we don't have to worry so much about wars or fearing for our very lives every day.  We live in a peaceful nation, although right now we're at war with an unseen enemy and have troops fighting in Iraq or Afghanistan.  It is because of our fighting men and women that we are free; they are fighting for our flag, our very way of life. 

A lot of them chose to do this; nobody had to tell them.  These are the people who should be honored on a day like the Fourth of July, Memorial Day, or Vetran's Day.

Better yet, our veterans (as well as our current crop of soldiers) should be reemembered, honored every day!

We have our families, our health, our jobs, our church family, our very existance to be thankful for.  It is because of our military that we can celebrate a day with fireworks, picnics, parades, family togetherness, and fun.  Some of them paid the ultimate sacrifice with their lives, their limbs, and these are the people who we should be bending over backwards to thank.

So next time we celebrate our country's independence, celebrate with song, flags, food, and fireworks, take some time to pause, reflect, remember our freedoms as Americans, and thank God that we aren't living in a place like Somalia, Iraq, or Afghanistan, where violence/unrest is so prevelent!  Thank God for the many blessings He's given our nation, and thank God that you were born in the United States!

God bless America again!  And happy birthday, America!!

~Bill.