Today, July 1, the start of the last half year, 2011. How the time flies; what is the line Merle Haggard sings: I'll be rolling downhill, like a snowball headed for hell. This weekend Mandan celebrates the 4th big - Art in the Park, parade, rodeo, etc. Like all holidays, the meaning of the 4th of July has become blurred, mostly lost to some. At the time it earned its significance though the folks who brought it about stuck their necks out a long ways. The men of the Continental Congress who signed the Declaration of Independence knew what it meant; it meant that their necks would stretch on a gallows if their attempt at independence from Great Britain failed.

One great way to learn and appreciate the struggles that the forefathers encountered is to read the book John Adams by David McCullough. Another great way would be to watch the DVD film John Adams, based on McCullough's book. I have that series in my library and have watched all or parts of it several times. A special treat was meeting the screenwriter of the film who was in attendance at the recent Western Writers of America convention in Bismarck. Much good writing comes from that organization's members, and I hope the material I am now working on will be seen as worthy.