-Isms: Views on life in rural America

It’s my favorite time of the year: Pie, sky, and Fourth of July.

Give me fireworks and freedom, summer nights chasing lightning bugs and watching the sun sink against a watercolor sky.

Give me a sticky cherry popsicle to ease the heat while sitting on the steps of my childhood home, basking in the afternoon sun.

Give me family get-togethers in the back yard, where Grandma’s potato salad and fried chicken are the main attraction, and an outstretched plethora of salads and sides provides a feast fit for all who join us at the table.

Give me a slice of watermelon, refreshment after a dip in the l...