For me, the 4 th of July over the past 18 years has been a birthday celebration of my
granddaughter. Ella. She’s still celebrating, but this year she is in North Haven, Maine, with
her father’s family and I , coincidentally, am in Roque Bluffs Maine on the third leg of an
intensely emotional trip, visiting friends and family in various states of decline and
advancing age. Nothing to do with the fourth .
Although I’m not with Ella, celebrating America’s birthday is definitely more important this year. A few weeks ago,
Americans took to the street to protest at No Kings rallies held across the country. Many
people complained that Trump and MAGA had usurped the flag and pride in the real
America. It is time to take back America, both symbolically and politically.
So, wanting to more actively celebrate Independence Day, I agreed to attend the 50+ annual
lobster crate races in Cutler, Maine (population 528) with my long-time friend Kath and her
100- year-old mother. A slice of Americana at its best. Up here in Steven King country,
natural beauty, lobster rolls, Maine blueberries and, despite too many Trump signs, a
healthy community spirit and love of country co-exist.
This 4 th of July celebration was a happy break from some of the stress and accompanying RA
flares of my travels so far. While everyone had happy highlights, eating fresh mangos among
them, many of my friends are in differing stages of decline and diminished capacity, both
physically and mentally. One in particular, my very first boyfriend, has opted out of
treatment and is preparing to die.
Is America also in decline? It certainly feels like it. I want to feel about America the way I did
today—enjoying the community joining together to cheer their children on, rooting for each
to win, and all of us just Americans celebrating our country’s birthday.
