Wednesday, July 2, 2025

Free to Write My Hodgepodge Answers!

 


1. What does freedom mean to you? 

Freedom means I can make the choices I feel are right for me and my family, without fear of punishment or control. It means I can believe what I want to believe, speak my mind, and live according to my values. Freedom is also being able to travel anywhere in our country, explore new places, and meet different people without restriction.

Freedom means having opportunities—like going to school (even at 67 years old) and choosing a job I enjoy. It also means being able to stand up for what I believe in, even if others disagree, though sometimes I find it hard to do. It means I can go to church and freely worship God. It means I can have a blog and write about whatever I choose.

But freedom isn't free. It means someone, somewhere, fought for it—and many still do. I’m grateful for those who protect our rights and for the responsibility we all share to respect each other’s freedoms.

2. How will you celebrate Independence Day this year? If you live outside the USA answer this question as it relates to your own country's patriotic holiday, wherever that may land on the calendar. 

As of this moment, we have no plans. I would like to have plans. I don't even know if any of our friends will be in town!!

There will be fireworks on Tuesday night at a nearby location. I may try to go park in a lot nearby and watch.

3. This or that...red, white, or blue? Stars or stripes? Watermelon, home made ice cream, or blueberry pie? How do you feel about fireworks?  

I love blue . . .but, also red! I will vote for stars. Watermelon is always a winner for me.

4. What have you purchased recently that made you excited? 

I haven't made any fun purchases lately. I am on the hunt for a couple of pieces for our house.

5. I'm thankful to live in America (or fill in whatever country you call home) because

I feel safe (most of the time haha!). Also, I'm thankful to live in the USA for all of the reasons I listed in #1.

6. Insert your own random thought here. I'm typing these answers on Sunday afternoon while it storms outside. I plan to work about a day and a half this week and by the time you read this, hopefully I will be taking a day or two off. We don't have any plans, but I plan to rest, if possible.

22 comments:

  1. I loved reading your Hodgepodge answers!

    Your take on freedom really resonated with me so thoughtful and true. Blue and watermelon are my favorites too! Hope you get to enjoy the fireworks and some well-deserved rest during the week

    Stay safe and enjoy the little moments my friend

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  2. I hope you are enjoying your time off and are resting. Your answer about freedom is really good and I agree with everything you wrote. Yes to feeling safe most of the time... I hope some of your friends are in town for the 4th and you can get together with them! Have a great day!

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    1. My final took almost four hours - whew!! I have a few days off between the mini semesters. We now have plans late Friday afternoon and Saturday evening! yay! Both are low key but sometimes those are the best!

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  3. Yes to feeling safe! We once argued with a friend who claimed that Prague was way safer than anywhere in America. And this woman lives one mile back into a very bougie neighborhood in the safest quadrant of our city. So we were mystified by her assertion and said, well, if it's so unsafe here, why do you live here? Of course, she could not answer it. Even funnier was the next day, a mass shooting was reported in Prague! Oh, the irony.

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    1. We have crime, especially in the greater Birmingham area, but we are in a suburb (where we still have some crime). I still feel relatively safe 99% of the time!

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  4. “Freedom isn’t free.” I think that’s something that everyone will agree to. Have a wonderful holiday weekend.

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    1. I hope you have a great weekend, too! Enjoy that time with your family!!

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  5. LOVE your #1!!!!
    And I am so proud of you going to school at 67, you are right that is just another example of the miracle America is.
    xx oo
    Carla

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  6. I hope you find some fun plans for the 4th! Have a good one!

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    1. We've actually made some plans for Friday night and Saturday night - low key plans, but still plans!!

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  7. Enjoy the holiday weekend, whatever you find to get into!!

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    1. Thank you!! Our neighborhood used to have a party similar to your neighborhood. I miss it!

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  8. I hope you are basking in your days off by now! I'm enjoying everyone's answers about freedom. It's deepening the answer in my head. :) Happy Independence day to you and yours!

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    1. I have loved reading everyone's answers, too. I hope you have a great weekend.

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  9. I enjoyed your answers especially number 1!!

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  10. I think you've earned a rest and hope there's some of that in your weekend. I think going to uni at whatever age you choose is for sure a blessing of living in America. We take so much for granted here. Hope you have a happy 4th!

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    1. We do take so much for granted!! I'm slowly catching up on blogs!!

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  11. Freedom to me is the option to live and let live. Also, we should remember that no one has unlimited freedom. My freedom ends where yours begins.
    -- Pradeep / Time and Tide

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  12. I enjoyed your answers. I love a good summer storm (but not too many)

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    1. I've always loved summer storms and I hope to get back to that point!

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