July 4, 2010, Nashville, Tennessee~

Happy Birthday, America!!  Happy Independence Day, everybody!!

Tippie D. Young here.  I am currently soaking up the sunshine at the "Red, White, And Boom!" Festival here in downtown Nashville; it is getting more crowded as I write:  more and more people are arriving for the main fireworks show, which is tonight.  They say it is going to be even better than last year's (if that is possible).  They say it is one of the biggest fireworks shows ever in the entire country.

I just hope it doesn't rain, but it doesn't look like it's going to.  It is partly cloudy out, with temps in the middle nineties.  A little toasty, but not too bad.  It could be worse, with temperatures in the 100's.  Last year and the year before we had thunderstorms blow in, which threatened the fireworks, but thankfully, it stopped well beforehand.  And last year, it started raining right in the middle of the fireworks show, which prompted the fireworks technicians to speed things up, so instead of a forty minute program, it was a twenty-five minute show.  It was still spectacular, though people did get a little damp.  LOL

I have been enjoying the music on one of the main stages, and watching the airplanes flying overhead.  There's an air show going on as I speak; the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds are performing their dazzling display of aerial acrobatics, delighting the crowds below.  They are fantastic; I have never seen them before, and I am amazed at the skill of the pilots.  They have to have had some serious training to do some of the stunts that they do!

I went to church this morning (held in an abandoned warehouse; we've been going here since May; the floods we had back then destroyed our church, and we had to find another place to hold our services until our own church building is rebuilt).  They had a special musical presentation, "United!", which lasted nearly a half hour.  The choirs and praise teams sounded wonderful, and it stirred people to bow their heads and pray for our nation. 

I didn't perform this time because I had prior obligations.  I did perform for the Easter Cantata, though.

I have started writing my book.  I am writing about my illness, which I had a year and a half ago.  I am fine, but I do have heavy scarring in my abdominal region (which is why I don't wear halter or bikini tops).  I thank God every day for allowing me to live an illness most people die from.  I guess it was part of His plan for me to live.  I am so glad He did because right now my life is blessed, even with the recent flooding we had back in May!  I stsill have my house, and more importantly, my job and my life! 

I don't know when I will be done, but right now I am shooting for Christmas.  Hopefully it will be released during the beginning part of 2011.  I work on a chapter or two every day, then I get back to what I was doing prior to writing on my laptop.

I have my laptop now as I write this.  Holy cow, a jet from the Thunderbirds just buzzed the crowd; it was pretty low ... not to mention, extremely noisy!  WOW!!  Now nearly everyone is on their feet, screaming their approval! 

Well, I am going to go; getting pretty thirsty.  Going to get me a nice ice cold Dr. Pepper to drink, and maybe some nacho chips and a hot dog to munch on.  I will write in here again soon; until later, this is Tippie saying have a wonderful Fourth of July!  Stay safe and may you have a day full of fun, food, and fireworks!

God bless America, and America, bless God!

~Love, your friend in Nashville, Tennessee, Tippie D. Young.