Monday, July 05, 2010

Abandonment And Loneliness

For the first time ever in our thirty-eight years of marriage, Mr. AOW and I stayed home for Independence Day evening. We did go to church in the morning for the patriotic service, moving beyond words. Mr. AOW and I were tearful during nearly the entire service as both of us are so concerned about the direction in which America is going today and, at the same time, moved by how the service honored our military and our nation's Founding principles.

So, what made yesterday so lonely?

Not a single friend invited us out for evening fireworks. We DO have evening fireworks very close by. But nobody bothered helping us, and I can't physically push Mr. AOW's wheelchair up the slight incline to the vantage point.

In fact, not a single friend or family member phoned us yesterday with wishes for the day. Of the many emotions that Mr. AOW and I go through these days, bitterness is one of those emotions.

One neighbor DID stop by and drop off some homemade peach cobbler. What's July 4th without pie? Heh.

Abandonment and loneliness sometimes overwhelm Mr. AOW and me, as do the many losses. However, we're making the best we can of the situation in which we have found ourselves trapped for nearly the past ten months.

Anyway, Mr. AOW and I spent the evening of July 4, 2010, at home and watched A Capitol Fourth on PBS television. We've never gone to the National Mall for Independence Day, and now it looks as if we never will. A sad realization.

Although life now offers us few pleasures now, Mr. AOW and I count our blessings that we are still able to enjoy each other's company. The stroke Mr. AOW had last September was a very close call, and he's still a long way from a satisfactory recovery.

Today, it's back to the grind: neuro-therapy for Mr. AOW to endure and tutoring for me to do.

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posted by Always On Watch @ 7/05/2010 04:00:00 AM  

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Sunday, July 04, 2010

Independence Day 2010

Happy Birthday, America!


Another video below the fold.

A reading of the Declaration of Independence begins around time marker 4:20:


I wanted to compose an erudite posting for this Fourth of July. Alas! I've been in a time crunch, in part because of all the repairs Verizon has had to make here in this old house for over a week.

I do want to wish all my readers a very Happy Fourth of July!

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posted by Always On Watch @ 7/04/2010 12:01:00 AM  

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Saturday, July 04, 2009

Independence Day 2009: The Fifty-Six Who Signed

(Posted July 2 and stuck here through Independence Day Weekend)

Something we should meditate upon as we celebrate our nation's birthday:



Watching the above video got me to thinking about the state of our commitment to patriotism today. How many of us right now would be brave enough and committed enough to put everything on the line for the sake of the ideals of freedom? How many of us right now are willing today to emulate our Founders and to step outside our comfort zone so that the ideals we claim to hold dear can be upheld and passed to our posterity? We are the heirs of the sacrifices and the dedication of our Founders — and of those patriots who came after them. Today I'm wondering how many Americans are worthy to be rightful heirs.
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We see our President and commander in chief constantly undertaking apology tours both abroad and online, speaking in demeaning terms of our nation. Indeed, BHO has harshly criticized America for being arrogant. I won't defile this Independence Day by embedding the video on a posting dedicated to the upcoming celebration of our nation's birthday, but if you need a reminder, you can watch the video HERE as the President of the United States shamed our nation with his words. In an excellent counter-argument, my good friend Mustang has some thoughts on the matter in his Independence Day posting "Arrogant Americans." I urge you to check it out.

On this Independence Day, as I celebrate our nation's birthday by watching the traditional fireworks, I will be celebrating the "arrogance" of our daring Founders, our patriotic ancestors, and our present-day patriots. I will dare to be an "arrogant American"!

I will put aside my anger and frustration with this present administration and will focus instead on what is right with America and on what those fifty-six signers passed down to me from over two centuries ago.

And I will say yet another prayer for America:



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posted by Always On Watch @ 7/04/2009 11:59:00 PM  

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Musical Interlude

From back in the day, James Cagney (1942), with Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland toward the conclusion of the video:



And another, this one (1955) featuring James Cagney and Bob Hope:



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posted by Always On Watch @ 7/04/2009 09:08:00 AM  

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Friday, July 04, 2008

Happy Birthday, America!



Long may she wave!

A blessed Independence Day to all of my readers and blogging friends!


(This posting stuck here for a few days. Please scroll down)

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posted by Always On Watch @ 7/04/2008 11:59:00 PM  

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