Thursday, July 5, 2007, Nashville, Tennessee~

Dear Journal~

God, I'm so tired (not to mention, sore) this morning! It is everything I can do to keep from crying: my body is killing me (my back does feel pretty good, all things considering), but my knees, shoulders, hands, arems, and feet feel like raw hamburger! *OW*

Yesterday (and for the past few days beforehand), our fair city held a mammoth Fourth of July celebration/festival--complete with a parade, midway rides/games, continuous musical entertainment ranging from c/w, jazz, rap, gospel, rock-n-roll, R & B, and even Cajun, picnics, and of course, the main draw of the evening, the special patriotic program featuring big-name stars and the fireworks. There were special tributes to our veterans (past and present), and a military flyover featuring F-16's and other military aircraft. The ground shook as the jets screamed overhead.

Of course, yesterday was the Big Day, being Fourth of July, our nation's 231st birthday. Kids and adults shot off explosives or played with sparklers, ate everything you could imagine, donned red-, white-, and blue garb, donned flags, video and camera equipment, and sang along to all the patriotic songs with American pride. Their heads turned skyward as brightly colored bombs of light exploded overhead, oohing and ahhing as the fireworks went off. Of course, my wife's little Pomeranian, "Cajun Gold", went apes*** when the fireworks went off, as did our youngest child, Muhammed Emir, who was scared of the fireworks because they reminded him of bombs.

My family threw themselves into the celebration as well. The oldest kids played with sparklers or shot off firecrackers (under close supervision, of course), the younger children chased each other around, laughing uproariously, and the littlest members of our family either watched with interest at all the different goings-on around them or slept a good portion of the day. Now when the planes flew overhead and/or the firecrackers/fireworks commenced, they did wake up, and some (like Emir and Arjun) cried at all the noise assaulting their tender little ears.

Poor Muhammed was so frightened at times he tried to burrow himself into my legs and was trembling with fear. He was terrified. The fireworks/firecrackers proved to be the biggest challenge for Muhammed: they reminded him of bombs going off; it was all too real for him. Yet when he saw that he was safe, with his family, that there was a reason for all thse noise, he finally settled.

Louie did her patriotic duty by passing out cupcakes she'd made to the wounded veterans, even spent some time with them. She was especially charmed by a young woman from New Orleans who'd lost her legs while in Iraq; the woman was clearly in pain, yet she tried her best to have a good time, and she had the company of her beautiful silver German Shepard dog, "Sarge". Louie talked about this woman when she returned, and from the way she talked, it wouldn't be long before us, the rest of the family, would meet her, too.

We did see Kendra and Louisa (Kent and Mason) and their famillies at the Fourth of July celebration; it was good to see them having fun for once. Both have faced some awful challenges, and it was nice to see them forgetting about their problems for a while. We did see Rebekkah, but Rebekkah seemed sad, distant somehow. My heart aches for that young lady; she is going through some things that no child or teenager has a right to experience. I will have to continue lifting her up in prayer.

The weather was patchy: at times, thunder threatened, but rain never did materialize; the storms were too far away, but for a while, it did get a little dark, and it did sprinkle some. I just wonder if the areas hit by recent flooding got a well-deserved break; from the looks of things, I don't know. Even Washington DC got into the bad weather act: they had a tornado warning, forcing thousands to evacuate, but thank God nothing happened; by the time the evening arrived, the weather there had cleared, and the fireworks/shows were able to continue, much to everyone's relief.

Other areas (like Denver, Colorado) and the steamy western states had their fireworks shows or parades cancelled to the drought/heat; they will have to hold their celebrations at a later date if they get any (needed) relief. Let's hope the weather patterns normalize soon, that the areas in need of rain get it, that the areas inundated with the wet stuff get a break. It's been crazy here in the weather department. As for here, we've had cooler than normal temps, but little rain; oh, we've had some, but not much to write home about. We are in a drought situation here, but the city officials were still able to continue with the firework plans, thanks to the recent (scattered) rains we've had here.

Well, we are going to go to yet another patriotic celebration in nearby Jackson, so the fireworks/celebrating aren't over for our family just yet. We will be back later on this evening, after the fireworks have ended. I will write in here at another time; until next time, this is Bill signing off. God bless!

~Bill. :)