Wandering Along the Path: Right Speech

We just came back from our neighborhood 4th of July parade with a band on a truck, speeches, singing, the ringing of the bells for the 13 original states, watermelon, cotton candy, snow cones and lots of babies, kids and dogs.  This year two of our kids came with their friends.  And their friends' babies.  It was delightful!  And the young speaker talked of young Hamilton, Larens, and Lafayette, and how they were teenagers and changed the course of history.  It's such a sweet, old fashioned event.  All my love of country arises each year, and I put on red, white and blue and decorate our dogs as well.  Symbols are good.  They remind us of where we came from and what we share.  I hope some of that sentiment survives this election.  In the meantime, today I'm grateful for my country, its people and my life here.