Independence Day.

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Responselet 9726b

Date: Fri, 4 Jul 1997 10:23:29 -0700

Good Morning To You All:

It's my favorite National holiday, the 4th of July. My family is beginning our celebration the way many Americans are by sleeping in, a favorite in the Cluff house. I am taking advantage of my favorite time, the quiet early morning when my family is alseep.

Most people will spend this day with their families pickniking in the parks, at the lakes and oceans or in the mountains. It's days like this one that I miss living in Utah, closer to my family. Since I cannot be with you today I will write you instead. Since we won't have the opportunity to visit over watermellon and cherries today I will catch yo uup on what is new at our home.

Daniel still lives here, he will never afford to be able to move out unless he stops buying guitars and amps. He came home with a new guitar last week, I've forgotton the brand name but it is a beautiful insturment. He is still working at the guitar center and following in his mothers footsteps as a great salesman. On Monday he called to say he was the #2 accessory salesman in the entire chain for the month of June! There are 30 or so Guitar Centers Nationwide with an average of 7 to 10 accessory salesmen in each. We are very proud of his ranking. He is already out the door as they are having a very big sale today and he will have to work until 5:00 today.

Ben is going to work also today. He has a job at a video store called Movies & U, he started two weeks ago. He Just got up to talk to his girlfirend who called from Israel. She mentioned that because they don't do anything for the Fourth her tour group went rafting down the Jordan River and she had just come back from swimming in the Mediterrean. Ben is getting ready to go to Hawaii with my sister Debbie and her son Spencer. They are leaving on the 9th for 10 days. The boys are excited to spend the time together. Ben is registered in the honors transfer program at El Camino College and will begin classes on the 19th of August.

Shelly is playing hard this Summer. She has enjoyed some new freedoms that she has never been able to before. like trips to the mall with her cousin Brenna Reaney. Since Brenna is 15 she is old enough to take Shelly. This last week she has practically lived with her two friends, Kayla and Brittney. In fact the three of them are sleeping at Kayla's house now. She has been to the beach, swimming in Brittney's pool and jumping on Kayla's trampoline for an entire week now. Life is hard when you are 12. The come to our house when the want to eat and play games or watch movies since it is much more quiet here, they are also king of the nest because Dan & Ben are always gone.

Chuck and I are working through all of this and our family is busy as usual. We are enjoying the kids and having good times with them. Life so far this Summer is good, I'm crossing my fingers that nothing happens to throw it off.

I was sent this free form poem about the flag and it touched me so I want to share it with you. I love this country and the freedoms it affords us. The best part of my years in working with the scouts was when we learned about the flag or the country. I remember using the flag that was on Dad Cluff's coffin to teach the boys how to fold a flag. That flag has been folded & unfloded more than any other flag I know of.

Have a wonderul Fourth of July.

Love, Di

I Am Your Flag

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Copyright © 1997 H. Roice Nelson, Jr.