A (relatively) low-res cellphone camera is not the bast way to capture fireworks, but (in the spirit of some of my video posting), you get the idea. Happy Independence Day (close enough - posting this just after midnight)! This is also my mother's (80th!) birthday, and Carol and I were able to spend some time with her over in Baltimore today. Mom would tell me that, as a little girl, she would watch the fireworks on July 4th, believing they were to celebrate her birthday. This evening, while sitting in Wilmer Park not far from the launching site (or whatever you call it), my mind took a different turn. The loud booms and burnt smells of the fireworks, with colonial history all around me (which is what Chestertown is all about, Charlie Brown) brought images of battles fought, futures uncertain, and hardships we (I'm sure) just don't understand. Today, the world is changing, and quickly. Humanity's history being what it is, we may be in for a bumpy ride. Traditions pull us out of our entanglements, and call us to remember. The past, present, and future all touch each other, and though we fall short of an ability to live in that place, a bit of contemplation can illumine the path.