4th of July

I am excited about the Fourth of July this year. It will be the first we celebrate with our new President and with new hope.

We will miss the fireworks this year in exchange for a "Get Outta Here". Our little village always enjoys the display that streams up and off the hill at Ault Park, lighting up the sky with distant, quiet "booms". For the past 16 years we have walked the few blocks up to the bank parking lot where we unfold our lawn chairs and join our family and friends, chatting until the night is dark enough for the display from the park. We appreciate them sharing their celebration with us.

This year we will celebrate freedom of expression - one of the most important freedoms that we enjoy in our country. Citifolk in Dayton is presenting their annual World Music Festival and Jim and I and our friend, Carol, are taking the new GOH van up to enjoy music and food and celebration. Besides the Duhks and Bela Fleck, there will be musicians from around the world sharing their culture and art.

Our constitutional right to freedom of speech and expression is one we enjoy without much thought. It isn't until we hear of the restrictions in other countries that we pay attention to how fortunate we are. China, Iran and many other countries control what their citizens can hear and say or even learn. Our politicians may preach and sometimes lie but we have abundant resources to receive news and information, not just the government telling us what they want us to believe.

There are many people who say a lot of things that I don't agree with or even like in the least but I am thankful that they have the right to say what they think and feel, just as I do. Music is my favorite way to hear what is in someone's heart and mind so I will celebrate this freedom at a music festival! Happy Birthday, America.