Independence Day

Happy Independence Day to all our friends and family, especially all those still serving in the military at home and overseas. We miss our friends from Italy and remember the Festa Americana held on the 4th for the servicepersons and families in Naples. We celebrated here in TN this year by going to the local parade in the morning and meeting more of our neighbors at afternoon-into-the-night block party, complete with swimming, slip-n-sides, BBQ, and a major fireworks display. The firepower reminded us of Italy and how our Italian neighbors shot off impressive fireworks all the time and for not necessarily for any particular reason. Luke was up very late taking it all in, taking serious the party-til-you-drop attitude.

We live on the far west side of Knoxville in a township called Farragut. Their hometown parade was very impressive, with helicopter fly-overs, tons of classic cars, military personnel and vehicles, lots of children's characters, and gobs of candy and freebies. We left after an hour and a half and more floats were in the pipeline. We needed to go before Luke got too much sun or went into a sugar coma; he seemed to attract friendly paradegoers with lolipops. All in all, it was a nice day and we were thankful to celebrate it on American soil this year.