july 4th is always a special day - one of my favorite holidays. bright sun and hot weather, kids running through the sprinklers during the day and with sparklers in their hands at night, the nostalgia of a fireworks show, the smell of summertime - all of it brings a sense of peace and a feeling of gratitude for the blessed country i am a part of. the big event this year, as pictured above, was the delta demolition derby (or d cubed as i affectionately like to call it). christian, generously invited me to be a part of this tremendous traditional. really, what is more american than old cars ramming into each other, exhaust filled air, dirt flying into your face, and people watching the show before them in absolute awe. the derby was really fantastic, the people watching even better. my top picks for the people watching contest were unbelievable. there was a gentelman standing near us (yes, you heard it, standing room only at this derby). the first differentiating characteristic that caught my eye was his camo neoprene cover on his bottlenecked beverage. what kept my attention was his turquoise bling. i've seen turquoise before, but NOTHING like this. he had 3 HUGE stones on EACH hand and a MASSIVE bracelet on EACH wrist. i can't imagine what that guy was worth! just seeing him would have been worth the drive to delta. however, even better was my next siting. i saw a woman...i think. her hair was butched on top. the sides were super short. the top was spray painted red, middle was spray painted white, and the bottom blue. oh, but wait, she had stars buzzed bald on the bottom section of her hair that didn't have any spray paint color filling them in - so they REALLY stood out. it was absolutely amazing. i have NEVER seen anything like it before. talk about patriotic! i was so amazed by both of them that i completely forgot to pull out my camera and get a shot. the only disappointment of the whole derby - not getting a picture to document these people who, without even knowing it, made my heart leap with joy.
on different note, the drive to delta was loads of backroad fun. we didn't take the freeway. christian's GPS led us on a road less traveled. one of my favorite parts was a section of smooth blacktop. as we drove down the oscillated path, i felt the same way i do when riding a roller coaster. we were like little kids at the fair - wide eyes and laughter filled the air conditioned vehicle. what a pleasant surprise. the conversation to delta was also very pleasant. one of my favorite parts was talking about the gratitude in our hearts for what we have been given. we discussed the star spangled banner. while the whole anthem is eloquent, i'd like to make special note of the fourth verse:
oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
between their loved home and the war's desolation!
blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
and this be our motto: "in God is our trust."
and the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
let freedom ring.
