The third cup 6/15

Hi neighbors. Better drink a hot cup of coffee in the mornings and pour the rest over ice in a thermos cup for the busy outdoor afternoons. Here it is again. Father's Day across the nation and here in Nevada the Bushwhacker Days celebration is going strong. It's a big weekend for everyone. It seems we Americans have something to do almost every weekend in the summer. There are lots of local events to attend and when you get tired of being in crowds, you can go camping or boating on any of the big lakes in Missouri. I can't remember any summer of my life when there wasn't some local celebration going on almost weekly somewhere within driving distance. No matter where you live, small towns across the country celebrate their unique histories and by doing so, recognize their similarities. I've always thought things aren't much different from town to town, state to state, or even country to country. People just like getting together and celebrating the good things in their lives. Don't you wonder if people were ever much different than we are today? Sure, they may not have had some the means and tools we have to achieve their goals, but I think their goals were pretty much the same. We work to buy food and shelter. We save or invest to have food and shelter when we are too old to work. We have children to carry on the species, and hoping they will take us to the store when we get too old to drive ourselves. On reflection, it seems a lot of what humans do revolves around food. What celebration do you know that doesn't include a feast? Every party has to have food; ice cream socials, watermelon feeds, barbecues, picnics, carnivals, rodeos, family reunions and church socials. And what food! Hot dogs, hamburgers, grilled steaks, barbecued chicken, roasted pork, and that's just some of the meats. Don't forget corn on the cob, big juicy slices of watermelon, hand cranked ice cream, potato salads and deviled eggs. And the summer drinks are favorites all across America; lemonade, iced tea (and coffee) soda pop and flavored water drinks in a rainbow of colors. Of course, celebrations are not just about food. The main reason to celebrate is usually something to do with the people in the town. They are normally bringing attention to some historical period in their community. Sometimes they get together to remember community members who are no longer with them, or recognize the deeds of those who are. Even new towns and rural communities without a real town can get together just to visit. Remember reading about all the town "picnics" in rural Missouri? These were annual social gatherings, usually planned for some time that didn't interfere with farm work. Hometown celebrations are all about what makes the people of a community feel connected to each other because of shared victories or hardships. Because it is often things that threaten to tear a town apart, that actually meld it closer together. Every town, every community, has reasons to be grateful for and proud of their achievements. And group get-togethers remind each member that group goals with the most lasting effects are only achieved by group efforts. Father's Day weekend is a good time to have Bushwhacker Days celebrations I think. The father traditionally provides the family's security and his surname preserves the family history and represents its unity and ties to the community. Perhaps more than any burning and disharmony in the Civil War, the Nevada Bushwhacker Days celebration should be thought of as a way to remember our own links and similarities to those people on both sides of the conflict. Today, like all times in history, the world is torn with war and terrorism. Families and countries are being attacked and destroyed. With all the disruption in the news, being in a free country and able to see your neighbors happy and enjoying each other, should alone be reason enough for a party. The unity of a family, a community, and a people must surely be reason for celebration. Until the next time friends remember; in America, and everywhere, humanity begins with families. Large concepts like human civilization are often best expressed with families getting together on small town squares to celebrate what is right with the world. Enjoy Father's Day and Bushwhackers Days.