Thread: Independence Day Observations

People watching has been a past time of mine just about every since I can remember. I can't say if I'm borderline OCD or just take the time to notice things that some folks don't but last evening my family and I attended a fireworks display that provided not only a great fireworks show but a great opportunity to people watch. Some observations:

• Sometimes when the rain is falling in buckets and the wind blows at near gale force and it looks like things just aren't going to work, the bad weather disappears as quickly as it came and you get to see an enormous spectacular rainbow.
• Lots of little kids sitting on Dad's shoulders. Even as an aging man I have vivid memories of this when I was a kid. As grown people it seems we can never match the "all is right with the world" feeling that came with sitting on Dad's shoulders.
• Kids and ice cream/ old people and ice cream. Did the Almighty ever make a more perfect match?
• Ray Charles' version of America the Beautiful, it just doesn't get any better
• If I live to be 200 years old, I don't think I'll ever get used to women with a bunch of tattoos. Call me crazy but I kind of equate it to scratching your crotch out in public. If I notice a guy doing it I don't think much of it. Women however are supposed to have more class than that, same thing with tattoos. IMHO, it can make the lovliest of young ladies look like trailer park trollops. Just think, 50 or 60 years from now old folks homes will be full of blue haired old ladies with tramp stamps (YUCK what a visual!) Maybe just a hangup of mine though.
• Is it too much to ask that when the National Anthem is played that those in attendance get off their arses, stop texting, drinking beer and playing grab ass long enough to remove their hats, shut their mouths (except to sing along) and take a couple minutes to honor and appreciate what they have and where they live and how many peoples' lives were lost to make that possible? My Dad was a WWII veteran (B-17's over North Africa). This was Citizenship 101 in my house growing up. From my earliest days, I knew that this song was special because of what it symbolized. How sad that at a gathering commemorating the birth of our country nearly half the people in attendance never bothered to even stand up when it was played. Sadder still is the fact that so many people live their lives thinking NOTHING is bigger or more important than they are.

YouTube - ‪AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL by Ray Charles‬‏