…It was festive in the summer of 1976 at the Detroit Medical Center where I had decided to delay my school studies, no classes this summer, I wanted to enjoy what time I could spend with friends and family. In addition to our nation celebrating the bicentennial, Detroit was celebrating 275 years of being a city, and many activities were being scheduled for the riverfront. Detroit was alive in the summer. I made sure to enjoy every bit of it. It wasn’t unusual for the medical students to spend time at Trappers Alley in Greek Town listening to what ever local band was playing, and enjoying the restaurants as well. The river front hosted ethnic festivals every weekend, and I made sure to attend the Polish and German festivals. The beer was unbelievable as was the food. The people were dancing, the music was festive, and people seemed very happy here.
….I loved the festivals because of the crowds and it wasn’t uncommon for some young woman to grab me and drag me to the dance floor wanting me to dance with her. I always gave the dance a chance but I wasn’t a “Polka King.” I did my best to keep up with my new partner but my heart just wasn’t in it. I think I provided them a good laugh, and they questioned my ethnicity. “How could I be Polish and not want to Polka?” I assured them I was 100% Polish American but my taste in music was a little less Polka. I also had to assure them I enjoyed dancing with them, and thanked them for asking. That usually got me assorted reactions. I don’t believe they thought I was sincere.
… I would usually reconnect with my friends where ever they were selling beer. They loved beer and it never seemed to affect them like it did me. I was ever so cautious about how much I consumed. The German beers were especially strong but my friends never seemed to have enough. The night festivals were a fantastic way to meet people and we had no problem with that. The bicentennial celebration coinciding with Detroit celebration made for a unique fireworks display put on by the J.L. Hudson Company. This year was the Detroit -Windsor Freedom Festival celebration sponsored by Canada (who celebrated Canada Day), the City of Detroit celebrating their 275 birthday, and our nations 200 year Bicentennial Once I found my friends, they looked as if they had been enjoying their beers and were quick to point out that my dancing needed much improvement. I could only laugh.
…We will be celebrating our nations semi-quincentennial, marking two and a half centuries (250 years). I believe as a nation with our current leadership, if we continue in our conservative stewardship through the 2026 elections we will begin to reap the benefits of policies enacted to enhance our economy. I have already experienced it at the gas pumps were the price per gallon of gasoline decreased to under $3.00 a gallon. With my supermarket discounts, it’s under $2.00 a gallon. The naysayers are just that, naysayers.
…I believe in a free market economy, with very little government regulation, however, there are those who believe the opposite. They are entitled to their views. That’s what makes America a great place to live. I only pray to my God, Jesus Christ, our discourse is civil, nonviolent, and of course, the conservatives gain more seats in both houses. That would definitely be prayers answered in 2026. In the meantime I will celebrate a little bit older, a little bit wiser, and muster the same amount of enthusiasm as I did in 1976 for our nations’ 250 semi-quincentennial fiesta. ….My Life’s Journey To Be Continued….. Ephesians 1:7
File this under, “The Return of the Barbary Pirates.”
MJ-Way 