4th of July

For our Independence Day, we spent time together and treated the boys to food out and a new dvd.  No fireworks this year again.  Daddy was the only one it would have been fun for and he got to see the neighborhood ones while he dug post holes.

I've often wondered, with the Freedom Celebration within 20 mins (it's one of the biggest fireworks shows in the nation) when something bad would happen.  Probably sounds morbid, but that many people hanging out, saving spots for that many hours, all crowded in like that... something is bound to happen besides the typical drunken scuffles.  Well, this one did have a tragedy. :(

A man dove in the river to swim to the island... and drowned.  There is a dangerous undercurrent in that river.  They postponed the show as long it made sense... it reaches a point where you are no longer looking for a live person, and just trying to recover their body for family and friends.

What took place immediately after, was also heartbreaking to me.

So many criticizing either the man that dove in, or the police who made the decision.  Name calling, pointing the finger.  This is something that is increasingly bothering me.  Either by incidence or noticing, I don't know.

We all make stupid choices in haste. Cut the guy some slack.  His family is grieving and hearing what an "idiot" some think he is, is SO not helpful.  They actually knew him.  And it sounds like he was a great guy.  Even if he wasn't, he's one of God's children and everyone is important to Him.

As for the police and search and rescue... sheesh, they know the protocol... most people don't, apparently.

As we drove home today, we got stuck behind someone who kept slowing on a high speed road, but not using a signal.  My husband grew impatient and honked at him and threw his arms up.  I'll admit, I've done this before myself... not in a long time though- not just because I'm not driving now, but also because I realized something... my whole point to this post.

We don't know why.  We don't know what.  We don't know squat. Unless we are them or very close to them.

So I'd rather just slow down and assume the poor guy is disoriented like my sweet daddy used to get, and hope he figures it out before someone gets too mad over something so so small.