Celebration Snapshots

 It's Sunday afternoon. I've taken snapshots of recent days, so here's my scrapbook of "Journal Memories" in chronological order. I left off my last post, "The USA Birthday Party Has Begun", with pictures from the annual golf cart parade:

We don't have (nor want) a golf cart, but the parade went by our house on the road behind us, so we participated as bystanders, waving and yelling encouragements, all in good fun.

We speculated that maybe next year we should ask if bicyclists can join in. Gary wants to secure a playing card onto the spokes of our wheels with a clothespin to make that fun flappy noise as we peddle. Did you ever do that? Sister and I did.

Then we could attach those long flashy metallic ribbbons from our handlebars and wear something patriotic. And I would use my thumb to strum my Ka-Ching!! bell for noise. Hmm. I'll have to think about that.

So the parade was on Wednesday, July 1st. Then on Friday July 3rd ("4th of July Eve"), we went out for lunch. The original plan for that day was to take some neighbors to a unique "old Florida" place that serves cooked gator tail, venison, and frog legs as well as burgers and fresh seafood. However, the air conditioning in our friends' home suddenly went out; and in this heat, there is no question that the repair needed to take priority.

Deciding that lunch would take a rain check, Gary and I opted to dine at a much closer place in another 55+ retirement community. We have been there before, but it's changed management/ownership (one or both, not sure) and we wanted to give it a try. "The Whistling Duck" has an up-scale feel to it but our "Florida Casual" clothes (as Gary calls it) fit in perfectly. 

Gary had a salmon sandwich on a huge brioche bun and I had the Gulf Shores Fish Sandwich with a fennel apple slaw and come back sauce. (note: I don't know what "come back sauce" is, but suffice it to say the sandwich was good enough to make me want to "come back"!!) 😉

That afternoon back at home, we took turns working on the current puzzle laid out on the table on the lanai. It turns out that Gary is at least as addicted to this pastime as I am. 

As I've said before, jigsaw puzzles with a limit of 500 (or fewer) pieces is my preference, and even more so if the pieces are over-sized. This one lacked that last feature. The small pieces combined with our heat and humidity (our lanai does not have air conditioning, just open windows and fans), the puzzle pieces would stick to our fingers, making the process a little tricky. But it was a fun design and we kept at it.

fireworks above Mount Verson

That evening we planted ourselves in our recliners in front of the TV to watch the 4th of July show going on in Washington DC. This is our habit for the patriotic holidays where we can watch in the comfort of our jammies, snacks nearby, and no waiting lines for the port-a-johns.

Gary and I have both lived in the Washington DC area in years past, LONG before we ever met. We speculate that it's possible we both could have been on the same metro platform, waiting for a commuter train, utterly unaware that one day our personal circumstances would be very different, we would meet, fall in love and spend the rest of our years together. 

Speaking of days past, before we met, here is a fun story Gary has told me that happened when he was working in D.C. He was on his lunch break from the office at a fast food burger place. All during his meal, a little boy and his mother were sitting at another table nearby and seemed to be looking at Gary a lot. When they had finished their meal, the lady came over to Gary to apologize. She said her son thought Gary was Clark Kent (Super Man). To that Gary replied with great confidence, "I am!" 

"Clark Kent",
my Gary before his hair turned white

Now we know! 😉 (But I assure you, in spite of this blog, I'm no Lois Lane!!)

On Independence Day we rode our bicycles through the neighborhood, came home, did our usual Saturday morning chores (Gary cleans the floors while I vacuum the carpeted areas). We cleaned up ourselves and I got to wear my special shirt (wardrobe purchase from Hobby Lobby).

Then we collapsed in front of the TV to watch the parade of the tall ships and military planes over the Statue of Liberty. 

I have to say that of all the patriotic holiday displays this weekend, the tall ships have been my favorite. They are beautiful, graceful, and the crew standing on (clinging tightly!!) the masts have been a little terrifying. There were so many of them, and from other countries. They came to show respect and to participate. It has been wonderful!

For lunch we had hot dogs and French fries. As we all know, hot dogs are a big deal for the 4th of July, although we do not think much of the fellow who prides himself as the champion who can stuff his mouth with [waaaay too many] Nathan's hot dogs in ten minutes and win fame for it. 

Joey Chestnut

Yes, I imagine he is a longtime customer of Pepcid. . . . .

While our hot dogs were digesting, I baked an apple crisp (with canned apple pie filling) and let its warm scent fill the house the rest of the afternoon as it cooled. 

We enjoyed it for supper (along with a thin slice of ham for protein) and felt satisfied with our holiday fare.

We completed our puzzle and settled in for the firework shows on TV.

my nephew

Uncle Sam showed up at Sister's place to toss out the fire crackers at the family farm where there is plenty of space for a real show.

This morning we took our usual after-breakfast bike ride of some 5 miles or so. We stopped to speak to yet another turtle on the multi-purpose path:

He, like us two retired folk, was not moving fast but he's satisfied with his slower, more gentle way of life. He posed for the snapshot and then we pedaled off to church. 

We watch a service on TV every Sunday morning without fail, and are greatly blessed for doing so. This habit works very well for us in our current season of life.

While no people are perfect and no nation gets it right all of the time, we are grateful for the merciful God Who forgives our failures and gives us grace to move forward.

If my people

who are called by my name ,

will humble themselves 

and pray and seek my face

and turn from their wicked ways,

then I will hear from heaven,

and I will forgive their sin

and will heal their land.

II Chronicles 7:14

Until next time, grace and peace.

Barbara