Happy 4th of July!

Y’all are probably firing up the grill, slathering on the sunscreen and preparing to enjoy fireworks this 4th of July. We’re going to grill too and weather-wise it won’t be too shabby with temperatures in the high 60s. But no fireworks. It’s just another day everywhere else in the world.

My favorite thing the last few years was watching the pops concert in Washington D.C. on PBS while munching on picnic food. I’m kind of sad I’ll miss that this year as well as the fireworks. But then, we did get to enjoy quite the pyrotechnic display on Christmas and New Years here.

As for our own private 4th of July party I think we’re going to have ribs and cole slaw. I hope I can chew them. When I went to bed last night, my jaw was still numb and my smile decidedly lopsided. I was in the dentist’s chair until after 8 p.m. Looooong two hour session as she scraped my roots clean. But honestly, I didn’t feel a thing and the worst part of the root canal was the x-rays which always makes my gag reflex go into overdrive. I didn’t feel a thing because the numbness extended into my forehead. I’m not even kidding. But hey, it meant NO PAIN.

Anywhere on the left side of my face.

I’m seriously glad my dentist is super careful about making sure I have NO PAIN.

I go back Monday July 13 to be fitted for the crown.

We were going to be in Uruguay then for the mini-conference with the other missionaries but that’s been canceled due to the flu epidemic.

Quite a few things are being closed and canceled because of that. I hear Santa Fe (Argentina, not New Mexico) has not only closed schools, but also theatres and other public places in an effort to stop the spread. Buenos Aires is the hardest hit so far although they haven’t taken such extreme measures as Santa Fe. I'm not sure if the 44 dead so far have all been from the capital but that's what I think the news said (I still miss a lot).

Yesterday a group from Word of Life was supposed to be with us but with 200 of the 600 students at the school down with the flu, I believe all groups scheduled to go on tour are instead recuperating on campus.

July is the winter holiday (equivalent to our Christmas break) and normally people are traveling during this time. Instead they seem to be hunkering down and waiting out the flu. I also heard that pharmacies nationwide are sold out of face masks. I haven't seen anyone but my dentist wearing one (which I think is standard operating procedure and nothing to do with the flu) but Ivan says the people working in grocery stores and other businesses are wearing them. That's a change from just two days ago.

There is a special section in the online newspaper La Voz today with fifteen separate articles about la gripe. One of them says that while the minister of health in our province would like to expedite the process of test analysis, he is not declaring a health emergency here as in other provinces.

This area depends on tourism and after a poor showing this summer with a HUGE drop in the number of visitors, I’m sure area businesses are hoping to attract those who ARE willing to venture forth over the winter holidays.

We, on the other hand, are heading to Sta. Rosa on Monday to finish that bathroom. Any money we spend won’t be on touristy kinds of things, but what we might forget of a home improvement nature -- like tile glue or wall anchors.

Anyway...back to the 4th of July. Pretty exciting to read that the Statue of Liberty is being re-opened today. Woot! Not sure climbing to the crown is something I'd want to do, it being more than 3 feet off the ground and all, but I'm happy that other people can.

Thinking about our troops today, too. Especially those in the big offensive in Afghanistan. Being able to celebrate the 4th of July comes with a price. A big one. I'm confident we won't forget that in the midst of the grilling and sunscreen and fireworks.