It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Galatians 5:1

When it comes to celebrating the 4th of July, or explaining what it means, I’m not sure I can do much better than talk about the afternoon we spent watching Great Lakes Loons baseball at the “Dow Diamond” Monday afternoon in Midland, Michigan.

Talk about classic Americana. Midland, a town of a little more than 40,000, is the kind of place with “all the feels” when it comes to what you want in an ideal community.

Clark and Chris Pashby (Alicia’s parents) picked us up and we joined the festive parade of hometown folk streaming into the stadium. We were still in the parking lot when someone started singing the Star Spangled Banner inside. We all stopped right where we were, because walking into a baseball game just wouldn’t feel right without the National Anthem ringing sure and true.

Sunshine, hotdogs, ice-cream, lots of water, beer, the sound of a ball hitting wood and leather, burrito-catching competitions, people laughing and cheering, occasional moments when the game caught the interest of the crowd.

I walked around the entire perimeter, trying to capture a little of the atmosphere with still photographs. But it is so much more. It is impossible to reduce an afternoon like this to two dimensional images, no matter how good the photographer and sharp the photographs.

Then, over the final two innings, the contest suddenly caught fire. The home team were down 1-3 for most of the afternoon and then some excitement broke out and they got ahead 4-3 in the 8th. The visitors scored a run in the top of the 9th with no outs and the tension ramped up.

With two outs at the bottom it looked like extra innings for sure. Until, with a couple of the hometown Loons on base, a hit deep into the outfield brought the lead runner home and it was pandemonium.

Amazing evening:

Later, we took the family out for Italian food at Midland’s Gratzi eatery, dining on the sidewalk downtown, the main street closed off to traffic and Mr. T. free to run around. It was a beautiful early July evening, relaxed and generous and delicious.

Rebekah and I took a walk down by the river and across the famous “Tridge”, drinking in the views and resting in the distance vacation places between us and anything that could be on our minds.

What a perfect end to a great day!

To me, this is the epitome of vacation, dining al fresco, great food, great wine, great people. Enjoying the bounty of life without worrying about a thing.

So, happy birthday, America! May tomorrow continue to bring peace and freedom and bounty to all who have the blessing to live in this land of liberty and plenty – DEREK

Photos: A) Tridge B) Diner C) Baseball game