Feeling extra grateful for the freedom to chase after my goals on this morning’s training run, the cosmic funk of The Brothers Johnson’s “Strawberry Letter 23,” swimming through my sweaty head on the trails. One of the most sublime love songs ever crafted in our currently bruised and befuddled country. The future is suspect, but today, if not forevermore, let’s drop the pretentions and the sad divisions and just be AMERICANS. It’s our day, people, make it count. Be righteous to one another. Be sublime. Happy Independence Day, my fellow Americans, all.

–Ray Van Horn, Jr.