America two fifty look at our cities some they so pretty others so gritty and I never seen such a mean machine taking advantage causing the damage we came to adore explore oh the lore common man builders hand strewn pillars electric and water distillers railway, bridge, road the load bestowed to us united dream makers shakers and creators America the beautiful irrefutable tis of thee keep us free help us thrive revive the poor humble the rich stitch this nation a kind generation Eyes that See streets of need rid our leaders of power and greed keeping score end the wars care for the downtrodden forgotten souls no agendas, pretenders give Love the controls America two fifty plenty to celebrate recalibrate be wise cause we rise you rise again and again above the fruited plain amber waves of grain I know it's a little insane liberty can't be contained to the bitter end you have been a friend spacious skies purple mountain majesties two fifty more to rise God shed Your grace on thee from sea to shining sea Mercy. You got me good. Happy Birthday America... ox
The image above (taken by me) was of a lone Hispanic teenager honoring Charlie Kirk after his assassination on September 10th, 2025.
Music clip: “Mercy” by Duffy — featuring West Coast hip-hop artist The Game, with production by Cool & Dre.
I added a video, above, of our local 4th of July events. The first part is an overwhelming amount of visitors to our city, against the San Gabriel mountains, of San Dimas, Friday evening, the 3rd — for it’s very first 4th of July celebration. I think the word got out to all of California! It was honestly hard to move around there were so many people and the marketplace was almost unwalkable. We hold a Farmer’s Market every Wednesday evening and this was 5.0! We even had a beer garden all around the small city building. A U.S. Marine band kicked it off with a fly over of jets! Crazy stuff! Then we had a rock band and a block party like none other with a car show as well — ending in a cool drone show (which there are images of at the end too). I got to hang out with my neighbors — two awesome gals, daughters, that look after their 90 year old dad, Conrad “Connie” Munatones, one of the first L.A. Dodgers drafted from a Los Angeles street team when the Brooklyn Dodgers moved to L.A. and began to scout. You can look him up as the L.A. Times did an exposé about it in 2020, but there’s quite a bit on this awesome Latino/German man. I also sat with his best friend, 93 year old Paul Martinez Jr., one of the first Latinos (also of Italian heritage too) to graduate Art Center, when it was originally in downtown Los Angeles! I cannot begin to tell you how much I loved meeting him. Only recently has he agreed to show his work and possibly sell some. There are well over 4,000 pieces. He’s been very shy about it. I really need to talk to Michael Newberry about this man. He’s incredible. I spoke with his daughter who is trying to get her dad’s name out there - but often, I believe, artists and their work/passion, are for another time. He has the most amazing background and still teaches an art class every week. And believe it or not, Paul is blind in one eye. I could go on and on, but — this is America! We are a unique people — all of us — with stories. Many that are utterly fascinating. All that are important.
I pray we the people, who make up this amazing country still striving to “get there,” will continue to reach for the best we can be — and appreciate all who have come before us on the journey to making our life that much better.
The second part of the video is our nextdoor city, La Verne’s awesome 4th of July parade Saturday morning — which opens with a powerful veterans ride on motorcycles. We traditionally attend with our daughter’s family and friends, and for the first time ever, we had a curb seat! (I think it’s because our city wore everyone out Friday night! lol). I just had to video some of it for my family memories. This is what makes America great. The small communities coming out to celebrate, gather on their lawns, meet one another, bbq and appreciate all the liberties we take for granted.
