With temperatures reaching 101 here for several days, we have barely ventured outside. It is definitely the hottest week I can ever recall experiencing! Today’s high is slated to be only 98.
JULY 4th ACTIVITIES
Declaration of Independence Reading
On Friday, residents where we live participated in a reading of the Declaration of Independence in its entirety before an audience. The document was divided into 33 sections, and 31 of us each read a section (one couple took two sections each.) Lined up in order to keep things moving, we stepped to the podium, read our piece, and then sat down.
Having not read this document or at least not all the way through, it was a moving and meaningful experience, both the words and sentiments, but also hearing so many different voices. I was #27 in the line-up, and I chose my piece because of its first sentence. “A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the rule of a free people.” The capital letters are in the original document, and I thought this statement was particularly apt for today’s times.
As part of this program, we all said the Pledge of Allegiance and then sang the national anthem.
America’s 250th Patriotic Celebration (Cary Arts Center)
The night of July 3rd, the Chief Penguin and I attended a downtown concert with narration and video images presented by the Cary Town Band. Founded in 1987, with just sixteen members, the band now consists of 50 volunteer musicians. It plays free concerts at a variety of special events each year.
In years past, in Swarthmore, PA, we loved attending the town’s annual 4th of July parade. A small series of floats, lots of kids on their decorated bikes, and a chance to chat with one’s neighbors, followed by rides around town on the fire truck. As I recall, our son adorned his bicycle with crepe paper one year and joined the parade. In Florida, we didn’t attend any parades, but from our lanai overlooking Sarasota Bay, we could usually see fireworks go up-up in about ten different towns ringing the water. Often, we got together with friends to celebrate this night.
The Cary Town Band is wind instruments, percussion, and brass as one would expect. The music was wide ranging, opening with The Federal March (1788) celebrating the adoption of the U. S. Constitution, and then the Armed Forces Salute, including the songs for each force from the army to the new Space Force. What came next was a series of pieces, many unfamiliar, but selected to go along with a specific era in our history. Beginning in 1776 and then advancing in 50-year increments from 1826 all the way up to 2026. It was rousing music accompanied by historic images and text on a big screen; a history lesson that did not gloss over or omit our nation’s shortcomings. Overall, it was a wonderful performance combining inspiration and appreciation for all that came before.
And yes, we said the pledge to the flag and sang the Star-Spangled Banner. Twice in one day for me.
SUMMER READING
Savor: A Chef’s Hunger for More by Fatima Ali with Tarajia Morrell (published in 2022)
Fatima Ali was a young Pakistani chef who came to the United States as a child, studied at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA), and aspired to one day own her own restaurant. She was ambitious, determined, and had lofty goals. She also wanted to do something to address hunger and poverty in her home country. Alas, her life was cut short by a rare cancer.
Savor is an unusual memoir in that its primary sources are Ali’s essays, journal entries, and in-depth conversations that her co-author Tarajia Morrell had with her over the course of one intense week. To provide more context for Fatima’s life, her mother, Farezeh Durrani, bares her soul and shares the story of her arranged marriage and divorce, along with other family secrets and regrets.
The result is a very personal family history interspersed with details of Pakistani culture and its food. Fatima extols the variety of Pakistani dishes with their fragrant spices as she advances her career, cooking in a variety of restaurant settings in New York and then competing in the Food Network series, Chopped, and eventually on Top Chef. Along the way, she loves the greater freedom for women here while missing aspects of home. It’s a rich book full of food and a young woman’s zest for life. Recommended! (~JWFarrington)
JUST FOR FUN
I can think of no one I know who likes going to the dentist. Even for a cleaning. Earlier this week, the C. P. and I visited our local practice which is across the street and down a ways. I like my hygienist a lot and was pleased to see her since she had been out due to a skiing injury. As I was leaving her room, she said, “You are Patient of the Week. You get to take home the flowers.” Lo and behold, indeed, we did get to take a lovely bouquet of flowers in a tall glass vase. First, a photo of both of us (yes!), and then you-know-who carried my flowers home. Why me? Why the middle of the week? Do they do this every week? The flowers were very fresh, not at all wilted, and they still look good 5 days later. Almost enough incentive to go back to the dentist’s office!
Happy July 4th weekend to you all!
