To a quiet Fourth

The sherriff's department is cruising Tiny today. I guess they have had several domestic incidents, a drunk and disorderly and some noise complaints. That's a lot for our little burg.

I'm glad to have them. Last year, a month before the fourth of July, we had kids throwing fire crackers at our dogs in their pen. Talk about ANGRY! And the part that REALLY made me upset is that if the dog went over the fence to defend itself and bit one of the kids I would have to put the dog down. And the nasty, ill trained, mean, kid would get to live.

I guess my tour of the parents houses and the neighbors with dogs must have been sufficent. No fireworks anywhere near my yard this year.

There are no fireworks for the soldier today. Her Dad, step mom, Grampa and Step Grama left for home early this am. They had to get stepmom back for work. (NOTE: any employers out there that would care to try and JUSTIFY NOT giving family emergency leave to the step parent of a wounded Vet are welcome to TRY.)

Because, when Jewel landed at NC, she was no longer considered to be seriously injured the family could NOT be reimbursed for traveling expenses. As a tax payer, I feel this is a just expense and believe our wounded need all the help we can give them. That includes the moral support of having family with you.

I really don't understand why a girl who is covered head to foot with shrapnel wounds, with a gash on her face that required stitches and staples, who has one leg split open from the back base of the knee to the ankle, one leg broken, an arm broken, fractured or with nerve damage, who can't get out of bed without help is considered NOT seriously injured. She only has one properly working limb and that one is covered in shrapnel wounds. Sure, she won't die from her wounds, but this is not serious? Bad call, Doctor.

Tomorrow she will be alone again. She hopes that in ten days or two weeks her fiance will be able to join her from Iraq. They are working on getting him leave for two weeks, then shipping him BACK to Iraq to finish the last 4-6 weeks of his tour of duty.

I know the people on base have been especially wonderful to her. We can't express how much we appreciate all their help. I just don't think it is the same as having your family there.

On the anniversary of the day we voted to approve the Declaration of Independence, in which the American colonies proclaim their separation from Britain - the government that didn't understand their needs, over taxed them and mandated their religious beliefs - we struggle to understand our current leaders, their spendthrift ways with foreign aid and the penny pinching that won't help a family of an Army soldier be there when they are needed.

Read the Declaration. Think about it.

Enjoy the day, all!