Rounding Third and Headed for Home

At the Library of Congress, Washington DC

Happy 4th of July! This is my favorite holiday. Each year I make all those around me suffer by reading the Declaration of Independence before the fireworks begin. The list of offenses by the British government far exceeds a small tax on tea. Americans spent ten years making nice with the King before finally calling for independence.

On another not so special note I was listening to the radio the other day and learned some frightening news. Bon Jovi is celebrating its 30th anniversary. THIRTY YEARS! What happened? I can still remember (thank God) watching Jon Bon Jovi lifted and carried to a small stage in the middle of Irvine Meadows Amphitheater during his Slippery When Wet tour. From that location he sang Never Say GoodbyeI have that love/hate relationship with Zuckerberg 's version of 'getting back at my girlfriend' invention. I must make one comment here... and this is NOT to say I didn't enjoy my high school years... but I am so happy to report that they were NOT the best years of my life. Amen.

On the writing front I am four days past my self imposed 'due date' of June 30th. Today, on my car ride to Watertown, South Dakota (don't worry, I'm not driving), I will write the final scene of my book. The rewrite will be finished today. What better day than my favorite holiday? Especially given that the story is about a man striving to save the soul of the United States. Perhaps there was a bit of Providence involved in all of this... Last week I wrote well over 15,000 words, but struggled through a writer's block earlier this week. That has never happened to me. It was a bit scary. Come to find out it all had to do with a bunch of other stuff going on in my life. We are calling a new pastor to our church and I'll tell ya what! The process is anything but a spiritual experience. And yet He was there the entire time. We are excited and ready for a new chapter after having the same pastor at this church for over 24 years. It truly was a blessing to be a part of something as special as this. In my past I would've scoffed and quit and been cynical and destroyed relationships rather than work towards a common goal of love and tolerance... yes - I do mean everyone else's tolerance of ME!

That is all for now! Enjoy your hot dogs, hamburgers, iffy potato salads, and all the other fixin's on this glorious day. Nothing more American than a parade followed by the smell of BBQ and a bit of drinking before lighting an explosive. I certainly wouldn't want to live anywhere else!

God Bless... and OH - God Bless America!

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