FOURTH OF JULY

The Fourth has always been one of my favorite holidays. Unlike most of the holidays, we did not have a traditional celebration, neither in my nuclear family or my family of origin. Interesting, because in my childhood we gathered together for almost all the major holidays. I am not sure why the Fourth was an exception. We always celebrated, but every year it would be different. My grandparents had cottage on a lake, many times we would go there, sometimes we would go on a picnic with family friends, other times we would stay home. We often would go to the park and enjoy the municipal fireworks. Firecrackers were illegal in Minnesota when I was a child, but we often had a few. When I was very young they may have been legal, at least, my Father managed to have a few cherry bombs. Watching a can fly high in the air accompanied by a huge bang was a delight to his children.

Of course, cap guns were legal, and my brothers and I, found ways of making big bangs with caps. We would put whole roles of caps on the sidewalk and whack them with a hammer. We had other ways of making our own firecrackers. I don't think I want to go into the things we did. We escaped any serious injuries, but I had a friend [as an adult] who blew off his thumb. I am not opposed to the sane restriction of fireworks.

People talk of Memorial Day as the jump off to Summer. But on Memorial Day, the Spring chores are still ominous; gardens need completing and weeding. The grass is growing fiercely, there is always a Spring related chore to get to. By The Fourth, things have settled down. There is a good chance that the garden is weeded. The grass is growing a little slower and Summer has definitely arrived. Weekend barbecues, and other summer entertainments, stretch before us.

In the last several years, my oldest Son Stuart, has established a tradition. His in-laws have a farm site in Wisconsin and they have been gathering there for several years. His family, and several friends and relatives, pitch tents and make a two or three day celebration. We are invited and have attended several times. We planned to go this year, but we need to help Naomi move to St Cloud tomorrow. She signed the lease yesterday and works today and Tuesday. We are going to be busy with back and forth trips to St Cloud. She has lots of stuff.

I don't have anything profound to say, about why we celebrate the Fourth of July. I have always been suspicious of patriotism; it hides many sins. Celebrating our freedom from tyranny, certainly makes sense. I wonder when it will happen? The revolution began our search for freedom, and our Constitution and Bill of Rights was a good start. But it was a start; freedom has yet to be achieved. We have yet to fulfill the dreams outlined in the Bill of Rights and the Constitution. Soon after the government was established, it was taken over by folks, seeking money and power. Our Constitution was subverted to serve the few. We have had ups and down in the last 200 plus years. There is promise now; but, we have yet to arrive. We can celebrate our awakening. It is happening.

Yes! We are awakening. At this point we are not sure what freedom is. We are so used to being controlled, it is difficult to see through the perceptual barriers, we have become accustomed to. What are we really like? What is our natural order? What would we be like without programming? What would we do without artificial rules?

Do we really think aggression, greed, violence and related behaviors are Natural? Many of us are quite sure they are not. Many of us think that these behaviors were encouraged and programmed by those who want to control us. They inculcate fear, between us, so they can 'protect' us, hence control.

Things don't happen overnight. We are evolving. We are awakening. What is truly Natural will manifest. We are, at our uncorrupted centers, LOVE. As the folks, who are into power and money, further lose their grip, a truly free society will manifest.

Folks coming together, with loving intent, have incredible power. The build up is slow, but change can happen fast. To contradict myself, change can happen overnight.

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!

Love and Peace,  Gregg