8 years....It's Independence Day! (flashback)

It's hard to believe it has been 8 years since our country was attacked by terrorists.

People are still healing from that grave day.

I remember it like it was yesterday.

I wanted to be reminded of those images I saw 8 years ago.

Images that looked like they were from a Hollywood action film.

Images of peoples' lives being changed forever.

Images of people surviving a battle in the heart of New York City.

Images of business men covered in soot and clutching their briefcase, like they were clutching to life and trying to breath, let alone absorb what was happening.

I did.

I looked at the pictures that are so readily at hand through an image search.

They reminded me of the stories that came in the days following.

Stories that aren't pictured.

The stories of family members worrying for their loved ones who worked in the World Trade Center.

Stories of survival.

Stories of loss.

So heart breaking.

I am so grateful to live in a free country.

I am so grateful to be able to travel freely.

To pursue education how and where I please.

I am so grateful to be able to speak my mind.

I am so grateful for the men and women that uphold these freedoms and defend this country.

I am so grateful to be able to worship freely according to the dictates of my own conscience.

I don't worship the flag but, I do believe it is a wonderful and honorable symbol of our freedom.

And that it should be respected.

"Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there

Oh say, does that starspangled banner yet wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the of the brave?"

Yes, it does!

I will always remember.

On a lighter note....It's Independence Day

- - -Flashback- - -

We played on the tramp and waited for everyone to be ready.

We went to the festivities at the Middle School.

There were lots of races.

Three legged were the most fun!

Sisters.

Good Form!

They Lost. Darn!

Mother & Son.

Good Form!

They lost! Darn!

Husband & Wife.

Crazy Form! Look at me...I look like I'm in it to win it. Don't I?

It paid off! We won!!!

What did we win?

Just the opportunity to take a picture with our fists of victory in the air!

The Grease Pole!

Actually there are two. One for the kids and one for the adults.

Every Fourth of July, Salina City stakes two poles in the grass and then they lather it up with animal fat, hence the name - The Grease Poll!

What do they do with this?

They take volunteers -

teams of four -

the teams climb the Grease Pole.

And you say...

WHY!?!

WHY NOT!

No really...there is MONEY all over that thing!

Hundreds of dollars!

THATS WHY!

This was Jill (Nate's sister) and her team. They tried. It was HARD!

They only got a dollar. Darn!

They shared a slushy. Yea!

Ok, I'm sensing you have more questions about this Grease Pole.

Where does the money come from?

Donations - wouldn't you donate some money to watch people try to climb a grease pole?

Besides the money slathered all over the pole, what is the teams incentive to try to get to the top?

THE JACKPOT!

There is a ribbon towards the top of the pole...also held on by the grease and if you get that ribbon you get hundreds of dollars. This year I think the jackpot was $450! Plus, whatever you are able to get off the pole, which was about $150 total.

Here is the team that wins every year. They get MOST of the money and the JACKPOT!

Don't hate me but, I only got a picture of them getting ready. My camera died. So, you'll just have to go to Salina next year and watch these guys climb...they've got a really good system.

We had a great BBQ - again no pics. Sorry!

Nate and the gang play Ultimate Frisbee - Nate's favorite! Again no pics. Sorry!

And then we did poppers and sparklers on the deck. FUN!!!

Let Freedom Ring!