Ok ok

So all the beginning stuff is out of the way. What is on the mind tonight? Quite a bit as usual. I could be home watching TV unwinding,  I could be at the local watering hole sipping a martini or white Russian,  or even taking a drive on this nice summer evening.  Instead I have my iced coffee and am sitting on the edge of Grandview drive and am looking out at the river.

Sure a beautiful view.  I'm thinking of who I would like to have sitting there next to me.  Allowing this moment to just be.  No thoughts of work,  what is needed to be done tomorrow for the kids,  just simply taking a breath and living in that moment. 

The birds are out teaching the young ones to fly.  I can hear the sounds of impatient kids and adults letting off fireworks this week before forth of July.

This time of year has always been a special one.  Memories of watching and helping plan and execute 4th of July fireworks. Watching the setups in Thousand Oaks and Solidad loading mortars in Coalinga with the watchful eye of Elwood making sure that everything went well. After my mother passed I had the opportunity to fly back to California to visit and meet up with my sister and her kids and brought my son and family out to where I had spent the last remaining years out there.

It was an amazing show one fitting for a tribute for her.  Conversations that she was there watching and looking over us with that smile of hears was on everyone's lips.  Which I have to admit I believe she was.  That year I had ignored putting on my hard hat and ended up with a S shaped burn on my head from a fuse.  I like to think that was her reminding me to remember to listen. 

Central Illinois has some nice shows.  I've had the chance to see quite a few of them in the area.  Bloomington, Dwight,  Pekin,  and I must say my favorite has been Chillicothe.  Small town and also a riverfront show.  It's like a tailgate party or a giant family reunion.  Everyone having a good time.  There is none of the overpriced seating,  food,  or parking costs.  Just plain fun. The reason for this I personally think is that is the community that puts on the show.  It's not funded fully by the city,  nor by sponsors,  or linked with a local radio station.  It's the people. 

What they put I to it is what they get out of it. Deep thinking...