Flying the Flag

So, There I was.....*

Friday Morning, glass of Iced Coffee in my hand (it's Texas, in the Summer, there's enough hot for everyone, cold is better), I've just turned on my computer in route to my usual first stop, Sarge's Blog, for information, political commentary, military history, advice from the Ancients (OldNFO and VX), Gardening, Beer Recommendations and an occasional picture of airplanes.  

But all is not well in internet land, because way down in the System Tray (the official name for the lower right corner of the computer where the clock is stored) is a little icon that will rock my world sending me immediately into Internet Withdrawal.  My network icon says "No internet access."

Yea, verily, I cannot access Mr Gore's fantastic invention.  No amount of unplugging and replugging in any sequence will allow me access.  Just last week, I was accessing, and blogging, whilst being chauffeured to Southwestern Colorado at 85MPH.  My, the elders of the Internet are fickle, what they once granted, can be taken away at the blink of an eye.

What to do?  The Boss, slave driver that he is, is laid up.  Asking for Papal Dispensation to   The Daughter is expecting manual labor from her Pop on Sunday, and the elders will not restore the Internet until Tuesday!  YGBSM.  Cold Turkey symptoms are popping out all over.  How will I vote for my favorite Friday Open Road?  Will Sarge put up a Friday Flyby? What's the weather going to be today?  I'm starting to hyperventilate, when my wife walks in the room.

"What's the matter, Honey?"

"Civilization has ended, we have no internet access"

She lovingly pats me on the head and says "Idiot, go down to the Guest House and access it there."

This is the view as I sit down to compose this week's post.

Now, even laid up, Sarge can come up with an excellent post about Independence Day and the challenges in front of us.  And there are indeed great, even existential, challenges ahead,  Whilst pondering these, the family and I went into town.

There was a parade to watch.

 Leading the parade the color guard from the NJROTC Det at the local HS.  They may not be exactly in step, but they are stepping up under the watchful eye of the Detachment Commander and some active duty folks, only a year or two older than them.

The parade goes up and down Main Street for a total of 4 miles.  Both sides of the street looked the same.  It was crowded.

So, Sarge, the folks in San Francisco or NYC may not be particularly patriotic, but I don't think we need to worry too much.  They're just vocal, but I don't believe them to be the majority.

The Town's first fire engine, still works.

I liked this one for some reason.

Celebrating our heritage

Lots of Whoops from the younger generation on this one.

Public Transportation

Three of these in the parade.  One I turned my back to, one I watched and this one that I clapped and hollered for.

Some local Beauty Queens

Don't know what this is, but I think I want one!

When someone says they're "going green" around here, this is what they mean.

The parade lasted about 2 hours.  Old NFO wanted us to "show the Flag".  We did, with flying colors, any way you want to take that.

It's gonna take a while and it's not going to be pretty, but we'll get through.  But Ben Franklin's quote "We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately."  is as true now as it ever was.



*SJC