I learned a lesson about planning. It should be associated with thinking. I had an auto maintenance appointment that I wanted to get done before last week’s big trip. But because I’ve been distracted by unfortunate circumstances, I couldn’t get an appointment on time (bad photog!). I said, “Well give me the appointment next week.” So, I pick the day before the Fourth of July! Well, you know what’s hard to get to work on the day before a long holiday weekend? Auto-mechanics! A one-hour maintenance job keeps me waiting there for four hours. The sad part is I could watch all the lined-up cars sitting there for three hours and then they were all done in the last hour. A nine o’clock appointment for a mechanic who’s showing up at noon is kind of a sad situation. Of course, some people started flipping out at eleven thirty and by 1 pm they were demanding the site manager be summoned for the maintenance clerk’s summary execution. Of course, the site manager was on vacation until next Tuesday but it was a noble sentiment.
Being old I realized my own culpability in the whole idea of scheduling something involving waiting for the day before a major holiday. I tried to do some on-line stuff over their customer wi-fi network. But I got bored so instead I watched the people. It had a certain entertainment value. I guess the thought that I had was there are definitely two kinds of people. The kind you would want in a lifeboat and the kind who will get thrown overboard.
Later on, we had one of those thunderstorm/hail storm/minor tornado/mini-monsoon downpour thingies here today. It had been very hot and muggy and just walking around the yard was a major effort. Then all hell breaks loose, the power goes off, the dogs go insane and suddenly the air is twenty degrees cooler. And we’re watching from the window and saying isn’t it great to watch this from inside? And it was. The trees were whipping around and the sky was full of water and ice and the clouds were moving fast. And then in fifteen minutes the sun was out again. Well, no trees came down and the dogs calmed down so I went for a walk. The air was sweet and there was a strong breeze. Just an interesting kaleidoscope of weather.
And now we have the Fourth coming up. Sitting in the service station watching their television I saw a news item about how some of the more progressive towns and cities were replacing their fireworks shows with a swarm of drones forming shapes in the air and changing colors. It looked so incredibly lame and so sad I just shook my head. The newscaster went out of his way to say how much more environmentally friendly and carbon neutral the lame drone show was than a fireworks display. And I thought, this encapsulates the difference between people who enjoy life and people who do what they’re told is good for them. These are the same people driving Priuses and getting their fiftieth COVID booster shot.
Well Happy Fourth of July.
From Founder John Adams:
But the Day is past. The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America.
I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.
Happy Independence Day, Photog!
Thank you Ed. And you too. My plan is to do only what I feel like, all day. Now that’s freedom.
Sounds like a man without a wife to me.
Well, it’s my plan anyway. And you know what the poet said about the best laid plans. Happy Fourth of July Chemist.
You have your cars serviced at the dealer? A recent trip to my car’s dealership for a recall gave me a reminder of why I don’t do that. I tend to have Honda products so, other than oil changes and the like, I almost never have repairs. But for maintenance, I’ve got a local shop that is far more reactive and conscious of their customer’s time. I don’t have to make an appointment either.
There was a really good local mechanic that I used. But about a year ago they were bought up by a larger organization. Now both the wait time and the quality of the work has gotten worse. The last time I had a service (computer update and an oil change) I was in and out in a half hour. The Third of July was a rookie mistake on my part.
Happy 4th of July🇺🇸
And to you Charlemagne.