Sunday, July 4, 1976

Dear Diary--

Well, it's the 4th of July again. But this one is a little special. It's the Bicentennial celebration this year. That means it has been 200 years since our very first Independence Day.

That's cool, I guess. It's America's anniversary. Or birthday. Whatever.

Just for laughs, I'll tell you what's up in America today.

Everyone is wearing stars and stripes today. Hats, t-shirts, dresses. They look silly, if you ask me, but danged if I didn't go out and get Freddie and I matching stars and stripes caps. What a sucker I am.

The number one song is "Silly Love Songs" by Paul McCartney and Wings. Yes, that Paul MeCartney--the cutest Beatle. I have the album, but I liked Band on the Run better.

I don't know what the number one movie is, but Don Knotts is in a movie with a mule named Gus who can kick touchdowns in football games. It's playing now, so I took Freddie to see it last night and he laughed himself silly. It was cute. I like Don Knotts.

Other than that, picnics and barbecues and fireworks.

I'm not all that fussed about fireworks, though.

Freddie is all excited. He's three now, and he has decided that there's nothing better than a lot of noisy, smoke and choke firecrackers and sparklers. Matt's been talking about it all week, so of course Freddie's on board. The family has gone out to the lake to shoot bottle rockets and Roman candles out over the water.

I'm staying home with Duke. Poor old guy is scared to death every year. The lake is just as bad as town, so it doesn't matter where he goes, he's a mess. I am, too, for that matter. All the smoke and crap in the air is a bit of a nightmare for my asthma.

I figured I might have to argue my way out of a trip to the lake, but it turned out to be easy.

I worked today--holiday be damned, folks have got to have their fried chicken. We were crazy busy today! I am bushed. I came home smelling like chicken, so I took a shower and now I am going to eat my own chicken dinner and settle down for some HBO. There should be something good on.

We'll be in the basement when the fireworks start. I will wrap old Duke in a quilt and use him as a footstool. I don't know why, but it calms him down. Crazy dog.

I've got a Coke and some chocolate chip cookies, so I am set.

Happy 200th, America!

See ya, Diary.

Em