I composed this letter last night on July 4th and sent it to a long list of friends. I share my thoughts with you here on the blog since you are also a long list of friends.
My Letter
Dear
Friends,
On
this Independence Day evening, I've been reflecting on the meaning of this
national holiday, so I thought I'd compose this short epistle to wish you, not
a Happy Independence Day, but a Thankful Independence Day. Sure, we should be
happy for our Independence, but even more, we should be thankful for it.
Exactly
238 years ago a group of people gathered in Philadelphia, put their lives and
fortunes on the line and agreed upon and signed a document informing the King
of England that we, as a people, were declaring our independence from the
tyranny and taxation imposed upon those who braved the challenges of coming to
a new world and carving out a new life and society based on liberty, personal
freedom and certain inalienable rights.
Nearly
six years ago I chose to change my lifestyle to live free, on my own terms,
replacing a more traditional, mainstream lifestyle embraced by the vast
majority of U.S. citizens. Living free simply means I chose to live simply,
minimally and economically. I am thriving and living a comfortable, fulfilling,
happy life while not needing and using most of my resources and those assets I
have retained.
I
am traveling this country in a "tiny house" of my own design and
construction built into a 17-foot van providing approximately 50 sq. ft. to
live in. You might say it's my own version of a modern Conestoga wagon. One of
the best features is that I have no mortgage or payments for "My
McVansion." It is my "magic carpet" that is taking me from sea
to shining sea, gulf to great lakes, over mountains and across great plains. I
travel the "Blue Highways," those roads that were once our national
road infrastructure, but have been mostly abandoned and replaced by high-speed
interstate highways where everyone always seems to be in a hurry to get
somewhere. I drive the speed limit, take my time, and enjoy discovering
nature's beauty that I've never taken the time to experience before. I travel
through small towns, villages and hamlets and meet the hard working, patriotic
people who live in these places and learn about them, their families, their
lives and what's important to them.
Yesterday
I was in the town of Bedford Falls. Remember George Bailey from the movie, "It's
a Wonderful Life?" Well, the real name of the town that Bedford Falls was
modeled after is Seneca Falls, New York. In the past week I went to an American
League AAA minor league baseball game, was a guest on a legacy radio station in
Syracuse, New York, revisited my alma mater, Syracuse University and toured the
two Newhouse School of Public communications buildings that have been added
since I attended 46 years ago. I enjoyed all kinds of great food and visited
with a fellow grad school classmate and his wife, John and Pat Hottenstein, who
also was the minister who married my former wife, Cynthia and me. I even had
the great pleasure and privilege of seeing their daughter, Kirsten, who I
bounced on my knee 46 years ago. Then I met Kirsten's daughter and three month
old granddaughter who I bounced on my knee. I took a wonderful photo of the
four generations. How time has flown.
This
is just a small part of why I'm having a Thankful Independence Day as I sit in
my tiny house on wheels in Ithaca, New York tonight. Earlier. I enjoyed the day
driving down along the western side of Seneca Lake (one of the beautiful Finger
Lakes). I drove around Watkins Glen, New York and went over to the Watkins Glen
Speedway where I shot pictures and a little video of Grand Prix cars doing time
trials at 150 to 200 miles per hour. Oh, and while I've been enjoying my
version of the American Dream and living free, I accomplished some audio
production projects for a long time friend and client. All this because of
those men in 1776, all the men and women who paved the way since then and those
brave men and women who sacrificed their lives and limbs to secure the
independence and freedom of this great nation
I
do have some concerns about the future of our country and what we're leaving
behind for our grandchildren and great grandchildren. I'm including a link to
an article that spells out where The American Dream may be in some trouble.
I
hope your day with family and friends was much more meaningful than just a day
off from work, hot dogs, hamburgers and fireworks. I also hope you are living
free and independently, as you define this for yourself, and are happy and
fulfilled. God Bless You and God Bless America.
Enthusiastically,
Ed Helvey
Afterword
But, just because we celebrate Independence Day on July 4th doesn't mean that we shouldn't celebrate a Thankful Independence Day every day of the year. For all our problems in this country, I still consider myself singularly lucky to have been born here rather than in most other parts of the world. Think about it.
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