The Irony of Independence Day

Being Seen

Before My LA Departure

My dear friend Janet said something along the lines of, ‘What a synchronicity starting your journey on Independence Day!’ I laughed. Indeed. Why hadn’t this occurred to me, I wondered.

My timing was perfect… not that I appeared to plan it this way.

As I stepped away from my second son’s home and attempted to land at my third son’s address, he eloquently reminded me that he was independent now, was in a good place, lived in a one-bedroom apartment and worked from home. I conceded that it truly wasn’t ideal I visited for long. However, nature decides, right!?

The paradox was he also didn’t want me travelling on my own on American transport, especially buses. I felt like a stretched rubberband about to snap, only to release into the next phase. My identity was scared shitless, while the light of me embraced my slight frame with a loving warmth no person on the planet could ever provide. Would I reach the mountain? Was it my mountain? I wouldn’t know unless I went!

Fourth of July, Beachside

Above me, a sea fog begins to lift. My son, Tom, said it was May Gray and June Gloom. I wondered if there was a name for July… sure enough, I learned it was No-Sky July followed by Fogust… personally, I don’t aspire to any of these names. Sheri and I are at Venice Beach enjoying a picnic she had lovingly provided while listening and watching the ocean waves dump close to the shore.

When she momentarily left to visit the restrooms, I checked my phone for messages. His message reads, ‘Just a heads up on 2 agenda items: I got us Dodgers tickets for 6 pm tonight – I think you’ll enjoy the experience on the 4^th of July! And, I’ve booked the Getty Museum for 11:30 am tomorrow.’ I smiled as earlier, Tom had given me two choices, attend a baseball match or go on a hike, I had chosen the hike. Maybe he was right and I would enjoy the live baseball experience.

Donned with Tom’s Dodgers cap on my head and wearing blue and white we headed to the game.

Only when we arrived at the gates did my eyes begin to widen. Holy moly… check out the sea of cars!!!!

The car park was 35 USD and was on top of the ticket price. Again, I wondered where the money went. Think about it… if 20k cars entered @ 35 USD that’d equate to… you do the math.

I hadn’t been seated long when I realised why it was a beneficial experience for me to attend. On the ground were the baseball players playing their game, while in the stands were 52k people all following external messaging on the big screen:

‘I can’t hear you!’

‘NOISE’

‘Make more noise!’

‘Louder!’

On it went and the crowd obeyed until I had to block my ears. It was such an eye-opener and quite perplexing to me… here was this game of baseball, not fast-paced like a football match but slow and repetitive; it wouldn’t be nearly as exciting without the off-field images, loud music, addictive foods and constant instructions projected onto a 52k person crowd. It was electric... and effective!

Then there was the aspect of being seen on the big screen… (I mean no offence as the people I encountered around us were friendly and polite. For me, this was a clear demonstration of the programming we have all endured.) What do we want to be seen and known for?

Apparently, the LA Dodgers didn’t play their usual game with the Diamondbacks (Arizona) shining as their name suggests, sparkling beneath the field lights and defeating their opponents 9 to 3.

*Photo Credit: Tom

While a few left the ground before the game finished, most stayed for the fireworks, said to be the best they’d ever showcased. Maybe that’s what the 35 USD carpark fee had been used for? Who knows. What shocked me was the baseball games are played regularly with another set to be played the following day. I guess they have the population to generate this but I did wonder about people’s financial circumstances… it was a curious thing.

The fireworks were the longest I’d seen, and while they were a colourful and spectacular sight I felt the contrast between celebrating life and the effects this was likely having on Mother Earth and the animals – what was the true cost, for it wasn’t about the money needed to produce them and was everything about our love for each other and the planet, where the latter appeared to have been omitted from that equation.

*Video Credit: Tom

Only when we left the interior of the stadium and rose the steps to enter the outer corridor did I gain a bigger picture, as fireworks continued to spray the skies way into the distance in every direction. They’d been sporadic since I’d arrived in LA, but as I looked over the suburbs towards the mountains they consistently seized the skies polluting and clouding.

I then started coughing, as I could smell and taste the sulphur dioxide. What toxic chemicals were in those? After some research, I would read the rest of the concocted list, including carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and nitrogen, along with metal salts: aluminum, manganese and cadmium. I also learned gallic acid, salicylic acid and benzoic acid salts produced the whistling sound that some fireworks create. 

What on earth?

Many counter the detrimental consequences by saying it’s only once or twice a year, predominantly New Year’s Eve or a National holiday, but we witnessed this celebratory sky pollution event last an unbelievable four hours!

Why is it that we humans continue to be so eager to harm ourselves and our precious planet? Because so many are unaware of the ill effects, are not educated or have an agenda. Personally, I don’t do well inhaling, let alone drinking, a glass of red wine that is sulphur-preserved, so it was understandable when my body experienced the adverse effects from the fog pollution that blanketed all in its wake. And if it were affecting me, what was the true cost to our food, water and wildlife?

More can be read about fireworks’ after-effects here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/grrlscientist/2019/12/31/festive-fireworks-create-harmful-pall-of-pollution/

Considering fireworks are such a short-lived way to celebrate life and in the process destroy ourselves and our planet in the long term, there must be other ways that we can preserve, support and love each other in a celebratory way, that equally nourishes our precious planet.

What beneficial ideas come to the forefront of your awareness?

How do you… or might you… celebrate life?

Thank you for reading and journeying with me. In my next newsletter, I’ll share with you my experience of the epitome of nature and art from the Getty Center Museum.

Love in Harmony,

Leanda Michelle ✍️📚

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