A Mitford 4th of July for Two

I just finished mixing up Puny's Potato Salad and earlier today made Louella's Cole Slaw from Jan Karon's book Mitford Cookbook and Kitchen Reader. Everything tastes great so far and I will be putting a rub on the babyback ribs early tomorrow and putting them into the oven for a slow cook and then slathering them in our favorite sauce.

We splurged and got the ribs at a real butcher shop rather than at the grocery store or Costco or Sam's Club. We also watched the film 1776 last night which is another of our little family traditions. We know the songs so well in the film that we sing along. Another film we like to watch on the 4th is Yankee Doodle Dandy.

The big Chicago Fireworks are tonight and the Schaumburg fireworks are tomorrow. Hopefully we will be able to see something. We got so spoiled living across from Grant Park for years and having front-row seats.

I am thankful to be living in the United States of America and for all of the sacrifices of the many people who have fought and died to keep it free. George, Keith's dad, fought at the Battle of the Bulge and recently visited the The National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. He sent us pictures and it is beautiful. He was also lucky enough to be able to revisit the beach in France where he landed back in 1944 (Utah) on D-Day plus 2. George was the company clerk for the medic evacuation hospital and basically the Radar O'Reilly of his unit. It has only been in the past 3 or 4 years that George has been able to talk to us about his experiences in the war and some of them were very awful. He was wounded under fire and offered a purple heart and turned it down because he felt guilty of the circumstances.

He and some other men were driving a jeep to get supplies or something and came under a shelling attack. One of the shells hit the jeep and George ended up with a broken leg with the bone sticking out. He would not take the Purple Heart even though it was enemy shelling because he had not been shot and he said he had seen so many other men so much worse off than him that he couldn't accept it for just a broken leg. If George is to ever get the award, he must do it soon because his company commander must sign off on it and he is very old. George was the youngest in his unit. I hope he will do this for himself or, I told him, for his grandchildren or great-grandchildren. We will see.

I am thankful that Gregory went to Iraq and that Rosie went to Iraq to show their committment to their country and that they are both home safe and sound! Rosie - if you ever should read this - I saw your lovely pictures with the rest of the family and you look like such a natural part of them already as does our Megan and Angie. It is so wonderful when a family comes together like that, you know?

I hope everyone has a wonderful 4th and celebrates like your freedom depends on it.