4th of July

Here are a few photos from a few of my Fourth of Julys past. That's all I have for today. I do value our independence from Britain, and the fight of our Founders to escape that particular tyranny, and the ideals this country was founded on—but everything feels so fraught now. There is so much learning we all have to do. I hope we are edging toward an even better, more vibrant, more inclusive union. Change is needed.

Nags Head, North Carolina, 2007

Also Nags Head: a decorated marlin

Honolulu, 2009

Also Honolulu—see the palm trees?

And one more

Some old silver half-dollars: LIBERTY
—it's not something to be taken lightly

And now, I'm gonna go watch Hamilton, streaming on Disney+. It may not teach me much, but it might tell me what I might need to learn more about. Heavens, this last month? I've learned more American history than I ever learned in elementary, middle, and high school. These growing pains are a good thing. Especially if we get some solid movement beyond the (white-dominated) status quo.

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Today's Covid-19 numbers for Monterey County: 1,915 confirmed cases—up 124 since yesterday, 224 since I last posted on Thursday; hospitalizations are at 140, up 3 and 5 respectively; deaths remains at 15.

Stay safe. Our "freedoms" don't include endangering others. We are the United States of America, for better or worse. I really believe it's for the better, though sometimes I wonder about some of my fellow citizens.