It's JJ, live from the lake house, in beautiful Laurie, Missouri. Jet skis started roaring out on the lake at the crack of dawn and then the fireworks began. I love the 4th of July, but it's not a quiet, contemplative holiday. However...

I had lunch with a school friend of mine the other day named Mike. (Not Mysterious Michael, I actually know more than one person named Michael) Mike was born in Vietnam, Ho Chi Min City to be exact. If you think Joe McCarthy was down on communism, you should hear Mike. He makes Senator Joe sound like Karl Marx. Mike came to the USA when he was 12. Some of his family is here, some back in Vietnam. The family goal is that everyone in the States works hard...like 2-3 jobs and they pool their money to bring the next relative over. His mother just made the trip in the last 6 months.

Don't tell Mike this isn't a great country and that hard work and education won't get you out from underneath poverty and oppression because he won't believe you. Nobody is going to be waving the flag any harder today then Mike.

Meanwhile, We have got watermelon and chocolate cake and $100 bucks worth of fireworks. I'm going to make ice cream; Ray is going to grill something. We have red, white and blue bunting on the boat. There's a fireworks spectacular over the lake tonight. Have fun today, be safe, use sunscreen and take a moment to think about why we are celebrating.

This day in Justin history

July 4th, 1992: Young Justin lures his date, the charming Dr Chasinghawks, away from the crowd at the 4th of July picnic at the country club and on to the golf course to 'get a better look at the fireworks' They end up making a few fireworks of their own

July 4th, 1996: Justin and Ray promise to 'walk the path together' before family and friends on a beach in Maui. You should have been there. Wasn�t a dry eye in the place.

0 People have told Dr JJ all about it