Yesterday, we had pretend fireworks and thought patriotic thoughts. We had traditional Fourth of July food: hot dogs, baked beans and potato salad, strawberry shortcake and homemade lemonade. We celebrated the birth of our country and our freedom from Great Britain.
Freedom
I’m not sure what they were declaring freedom from, except taxes. They didn’t like taxes. But they made taxes of their own. And I hear people argue about taxes all the time. Maybe we need to have another tea party, like they had in this town called Boston. They had it on a boat in a harbor – that’s water, for those of you that don’t know. Apparently they needed a lot of water to make that tea. That was a long time ago, nearly 250 years. I don’t think Mom was born yet.
A lot has changed since that tea party – it’s a really good story but I forget the punch line – like the hot dogs. I don’t think they had hot dogs back then. At least, not in Boston. They didn’t even have baked beans in Boston, and that’s pretty strange, because there is this dish called Boston Baked Beans. You use bacon and onions and molasses and ketchup and dry mustard and this stuff called Worcestershire sauce. And beans. Don’t forget the beans.
Anyway, if we had a tea party, maybe we would all get along. Mom just laughed out loud when I said that. I don’t know why.
Back To The Food
Mom said they had some versions of potato salad then. Some Spanish explorers boiled potatoes in wine or vinegar and spices (ick), and then the Germans brought their version over here, maybe to that harbor in Boston.
Believe it or not, they already had strawberry shortcake and lemonade, too. It was the hot dogs and baked beans that they lacked.
So we had hot dogs, grilled outside, then put inside a bun, with ketchup and mustard and pickle relish and chopped onions. And I’m pretty sure the beans we had were the Boston kind. The potato salad was Mom’s favorite. It had boiled – or deviled – eggs and celery and dill pickles and dill. And something Mom calls mayo. She always says don’t use Miracle Whip. Whatever that means.
And the strawberries were the best in the world, with a biscuit called shortbread and whipped cream. That’s my favorite. I could care less about the rest of it, but I wanted the whipped cream.
So Back To The Freedom
Apparently after that tea party, they had a war. That wasn’t very nice. But then we were free. Free to do what? Work hard at putting everything back together again, I guess. But that brings me to my point. The point of all of this.
I, Little Socks Kitty Kat, Declare My Freedom From Everything.
I declare my freedom to stay away from people who don’t care to keep other people safe.
I declare my freedom to say that I like cats of every size and shape and color and gender. I even declare my freedom to say I like dogs.
I declare my freedom to say that I will not be mean to anyone. Well, unless they deserve it, and sometimes Mr. Bean deserves it.
I declare my freedom to have food and water whenever I want it. And not just any food and water. Healthy food and clean water.
I declare my freedom to have clean air.
I declare my freedom to have enough money to have a roof, walls, a floor, windows with sunshine, and boxes. Lots of boxes. And soft beds.
And I declare freedom from taxes! (But Mom can’t. She has to pay hers.)
Anyway, Mom says that’s why we celebrate the 4th of July, so we can be free to be decent human beings. Or kitty kats.
In Closing
I just hope that everyone, everywhere, can declare the same freedoms as me some day. Happy Fourth!