Voltaire says, "Man is free at the moment he wishes to be." There is nothing better than witnessing people exercise their freedoms, especially on the day their country celebrates liberty. This is not something you have to go searching for in our nation's capitol or at picket lines or in the court room - I spent this weekend just hanging around small towns and watched as ordinary people declared their freedom everywhere.
Saturday morning I was met in the Dollar Store parking lot by a man who practiced his freedom to drive his personal vehicle sans shirt. This middle age man did so appropriately with his hard rock screaming through his speakers and his tats glistening in the sunlight. The beauty of this situation is watching someone exercise their freedom to be belly bare, despite a full gut and course body hair, with no hesitation. I was further impressed by this proud citizen when he so dutifully observed the dress code of our fine country by digging in the back of his Bronco for a shirt in order complete that natural cause and effect where shirts and shoes yield service. Naturally, he produced a fine, white, tank-top; dare I say that it was airbrushed. Carry on, fearless American.
Later that same afternoon while in the parking lot of the ONLY place to be on our country's birthday weekend, Wal-Mart, I witnessed yet another taxpaying resident practicing her freedom to completely snub the law, and moreover the safety of her offspring. This brave woman crept into her handicap parking spot with her windows down and Lil' Wayne rattling the Supercenter doors. It was this loud announcement of her arrival that made me turn around to see a bold American flick her cigarette out one window, while her toddler stood in the front seat, hanging onto the door of the opposite window doing an impressive balancing act for her teeny tiny body. Now, if that is not quintessential life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness - I don't know what is.
Sunday, Americans paraded their biggest demonstrations of independence. And in the course of human events typical for this day it came time to light fireworks. What better way to mark freedom and the solemn, contemplative, sound words of our our country's forefathers than with unabashed recklessness in the presence of fire? I am proud to be married to a man that did not deny his inalienable right to blow up some really wicked pyrotechnics. And in this case NOT all men are created equal, because there are only a few folks out there daft enough to light heavy duty fireworks for their first time ever dressed in shorts. So kudos to my husband who practiced his right to bear calves while setting off fireworks. Like most freedoms, though, his was not totally "free" - there was a price to pay...
Because of the loud booms and no sight of her daddy, Charley freaked out over the fireworks and begged to go inside. Disappointed at my wimpy child, I went inside but not before Charley was appropriately scarred for life (or at least the evening). Just a few lightings into the show, Gary and his pyro partner lit a fairly large rocket that did not detonate in the air, but on the ground - more specifically onto Gary's calf. All Charley heard was an explosion and her dad yell, "Ow!" While there are bombs bursting in front of her she begins bursting into complete hysterics and we go inside. Meanwhile, I have no clue if Gary's leg is still in tact, but I still hear the blasts (and so does Charley as she buries her face deeper and deeper into the couch with each one) I assume, the patriot is safe. When silence resumed and my wound up toddler caught her breath, we ventured outside to check on daddy. In the darkness, with only his word to go on it seemed as if Gary was okay. It was not until next day the soldier would reveal his battle wounds - and it was gross.
But the best part of all was that Gary's stamp of freedom, his patriotic mark of the BIRTH of our nation was in the single, blatant shape of a very specific cell that has a compact head attached to long flagella...
So go forth citizens and celebrate your rights in all their glory - shirtless or careless - just don't take your rights for granted!
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