Ralph Sends His July 4th Congratulations

 

 

            I’d like to take a moment to say, “Happy Birthday, America!” Why, looking back I remember when America was only 200 years old. Has it really been 50 years? I was just a little guy, hanging out with my mom and dad, and Uncle Bob, before we called him that.
            But, I remember the hoopla! Even up in the forest, we sensed the excitement, heard the loud booms, and if you looked in just the right direction, we saw the colored explosions in the sky over Milltown way downhill.
            Mom said, “It’s like a big birthday party. Humans like to mark the days and the times with big celebrations.
            “200 years ago, these people’s ancestors broke off from another older country, because they were not being treated fairly, and they started their own country here on this land. And here we are!
            “Now, we Forest Keepers were here all along, and way before too, so we’ve seen it all, mostly from a distance. But, we have our ways of knowing, don’t we?”
            Dad said, “We’ll see what it looks like in 50 more years.” Can’t argue with that.
            Ramona and I, and, in fact, all of us here in the Great Forest wish all of you busy humans the very best. Have a Bang Up holiday! I know you will, because I’ve been hearing the warmup, and smelling the smoke, for days.
 
            We’ll be watching! We always are!

Love, Ralph 💚