Thursday, July 3, 2008, 1:04 p.m., D.S.T., Nashville, TN~

Dear Journal~

Let me be among the first to wish all my friends, co-workers, and acquaintances the best Fourth of July EVER!!  May it be full of fun, good times, family, and food, but most of all, please be safe in whatever you may do or wherever you may venture to see the fireworks later.  Too many times people can get hurt (or even killed); it's happened before, and I don't like to see that sort of thing happen.

As a nurse, I've seen far too many injuries from fireworks or firecrackers.  Some of the injuries have been nasty, and now the people are maimed for the rest of their lives because they didn't take precaution before they set their exlosives off.  It's a terrible situation.

Fireworks are okay, but if you don't take the necessary precautions, disaster can strike, just like that.  It's better off to leave the fireworks for the professionals; they know what they are doing (and even then things can go wrong, catching a lot of people off guard).  Just be careful; it's better to be safe than sorry.

On a more pleasant note, our family will be celebrating right along with the rest of America.  We plan on partaking in the parade, which starts at nine o'clock sharp, and ends by noon.  Then we are going to head for the downtown area of our fair city, where we will listen to music, have a picnic lunch with the family, and celebrate our freedoms as Americans.  We also plan on celebrating the naturalizations of our kids who were recently adopted, and then they can be citizens, too, making us more reason to be thankful.

After lunch and the naturalization ceremonies have been completed, we will just relax, let the children run around until the evening's concert followed by the biggest fireworks display Nashville has ever put on.  It promises to top last year's display--and last year's display was nothing short of incredible!!

Johnny and Ronee' are performing tomorrow evening, prior to the concert by Carrie Underwood; they are opening up for Loretta Lynn.  So we will have to be at the concert bandshell by four at the latest; it only gives us a few hours to relax.

And believe me, brother, we're going to take every advantage of it, too! :)

For you who are staying home, you be safe, too.  And I do hope you get to catch some fireworks display where you are.  There's nothing worse than not being able to see fireworks on the Fourth! 

As for you who have animals (as we do), please keep your pets leashed up or better yet inside.  Too many cats or dogs have gotten lost (or killed) trying to escape the fireworks; the sound of the fireworks hurt their tender little ears; they do not like the sound of fireworks going off.  I know my pets don't. They act like babies, even our big Great Dane, Marmaduke, who weighs over 100 pounds!  He will try to stuff his big, bulky frame underneath the bed, whining pitiously; it's really pathetic! LOL

Well, we are going to head on over to downtown Nashville: the festival is still in full swing, and the kids want to hit the carnival rides again.  So before they drive me crazy with their asking, I might as well give in.  LOL  We also want to get more food, listen to more music.  We will probably be back by ten or so; they may have a mini fireworks display tonight; but the biggie is tomorrow night, after the Carrie Underwood concert.  Take care and may God bless you on this, our Nation's birthday!  Happy Birthday, America!!!

~Love, your friend, Louie May. :D

Don't forget the hot dogs!!!! LOL