It's Saturday and the beginning of a weekend celebration of the birth of our country (USA). Most Independence Day festivities remain cancelled this year – it simply takes too long to prepare for these events – but it's not the hamburgers, hot dogs and fireworks that matter. Today, we gather at the bar and celebrate our independence, and we will easily handle Linda G. Hill's Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompt,

"Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is 'contains igh.' Find a word that contains the letters 'igh' in that order and use it in your post. Enjoy!"

Before we join David and Cheryl, I want to share the preamble to our Declaration of Independence – where this experiment in democracy started. It's fitting for this weekend, and it satisfies the prompt,

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Preamble to the Declaration of Independence

Now, if we were having a beer, we would be enjoying the holiday spirit.

"Gentlemen, your first round is on me today. A John Howell's Special for David and a cold Corona for Dan."

"Thank you, Cheryl, – cheers!"

"Yes, thank you, Cheryl, although I expected Dan to switch to an American beer for today, perhaps a Boston Lager."

"This Corona is the means by which I am pursuing happiness today, David."

"Well, it is a weekend to be independent, Dan. Were you busy in your shop today?"

"No. No activity in the workshop until Tuesday – orders of she who must be obeyed."

"I believe that's pronounced 'swim•bo' – I report to the same authority. Why the moratorium? Are you in charge of the grill?"

"I have what you might call a 'history' on this weekend. On multiple occasions, mishaps on and near the fourth of July have required me to seek medical attention."

"Visits to the ER?"

"ER, Urgent Care, Doctor's offices and on one weekend, visits to every drug store in town to buy gauze pads for oozing poison ivy."

"Yikes, you really know how to celebrate, my young friend."

"This weekend, I'll enjoy some cooler days, walks with the dog and maybe a chance to sit in between rain showers."

"Did you at least finish the floor in your shop? Or, did you avoid the ninety-nine degree days by staying inside?"

"I worked in there on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday."

"Monday and Wednesday?"

"We cut the grass on Monday, and I took my car in for service on Wednesday."

"Service? The recall? Can I take that to mean you're no longer in danger of bursting into flames?"

"Hahaha – yes, and that's a good thing since I parked next to you."

"You're certain they completed those repairs?"

"I am."

"Your dealership in in East Hartford. Does that mean you stopped at Great River Park?"

"And Maddie's, yes."

"Ah ha – breakfast at Maddie's. That's why you bought your car in East Hartford, isn't it?"

"No, David. We had a bad experience with the dealership closest to us. We used the folks in East Hartford for service and we liked them."

"You liked the service at a dealership? Dan, that's just not normal."

"These guys a really good, decent price, and the location has its benefits."

"River views, bacon, eggs over easy, pancakes – I'd say those are pretty good benefits."

"I meant they have a nice new customer lounge with WiFi, coffee and powered workstations."

"Yeah yeah, sure you did."

"You guys are making me hungry with all this food talk. Do you want anything to eat?"

"Cheryl, I know it's hot out, but I would like a bowl of clam chowder."

"You know what, Dan? We sell a lot of chowder when it's hot."

"I guess, in this case, I'm doing the normal thing, eh David?"

"I wouldn't go that far, Dan. The chowder here is exceptionally good."

"Would you like a bowl?"

"I would. And, Cheryl, since Dan is buying, let's have another round."