#july4th — Public Fediverse posts on home.social

On July 4, 1976, I was almost 7. My family lived in Janesville, Wisconsin then. I remember having a picnic on the banks of the Rock River and watching fireworks. I remember thinking that it was amazing to be alive then, and I remember wondering about the next 100 years.

I figured it wasn't super-likely that I'd be around in 2076, but I did think I'd see 2026. Given that I was starting to get an interest in space and rockets and being an astronaut, I distinctly remember thinking that by 2026, the world would be awesome - moon bases, space stations (Skylab mark 40 or something). I am sure I was barely aware of war, poverty, disease, the environment if at all, but I am sure I just thought people would figure it out and learn to get along.

I wonder if there are 7-year-olds out there today who have the kind of optimism about the world that I did then. I hope they actually get to see their dreams manifested.

And I hope they can find it in their hearts to forgive us for making it so difficult for them.

#july4th #thoughts #ramblings