July 2026

Where were you 50 Years ago?

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I remember the day like it was yesterday.
​My sisters, Ronnie, Yolande and I bought the same material and made our young children outfits for our Nation's Bicentennial Celebration. 

Many Thanks to my sister Ronnie for these great photos of July 4th 1976. Pictured in the top photo from left to right: Nicole, Denis Jr., Joseph Jr,. Janine Pictured in the next two photos are: Janine & Joseph Jr.

As young moms, we shared a simple but sweet mission: to throw an unforgettable family celebration. We poured our hearts into planning a vibrant patriotic bash, decking out the space in brilliant red, white, and blue. The highlight of the party was a beautifully decorated flag cake, perfectly surrounded by matching trimmings.

In just a few days, we will celebrate the United States Semiquincentennial, marking our 250th anniversary as a nation. While decades have passed, the parallels between past and present are striking. Looking back at our Bicentennial in 1976, the era was defined by the dawn of the personal computer, major space breakthroughs, global sporting events, and intense political shifts. Fascinatingly, today's world reflects those very same themes; while we have grown older and perhaps wiser, the core of our national journey remains unchanged

Today, social media serves as a primary news source, carrying both positive stories and dangerous risks for all generations. The personal computers born in 1976 have morphed into information-gathering tools that often leave us isolated. This is especially true for young teens, who frequently use these platforms to bully and intimidate classmates. Half a century ago, a child dealing with school drama could retreat to the safety of their bedroom to process things in peace. Today, that same bedroom offers no escape; children log on only to read horrific comments directed at them. The consequences are devastating, as seen at our local high school, which tragically suffered two bullying-related student suicides in just 15 months.

 I do not mean to cast a somber shadow over our upcoming 250th anniversary. Instead, my goal is to shine a light on a growing epidemic threatening our children and grandchildren. We must investigate why this crisis is happening. Is it due to a lack of coping skills? A failure of institutional safeguard? A deficit in parental support at home? Whatever the root cause, systemic change cannot wait.
To help address this, my therapy dog, Picasso, and I frequently visit local schools to provide comfort, affection, and emotional relief to students and faculty. One high school we visit features a dedicated Mindfulness Room staffed by a school social worker and psychologist, offering students a quiet space simply to decompress. This brilliant initiative provides a replicable model for all educational institutions. It represents a manageable institutional step that yields profound behavioral and emotional results. I regularly witness visibly distressed students enter the Mindfulness Room, sit quietly in a corner to regulate their breathing, or find solace by cuddling with Picasso. It functions as a genuine sanctuary entirely free from judgment, criticism, and harassment. 

Today’s children carry a heavy burden on their shoulders. While social media and modern technology have allowed us to achieve remarkable advancements, these innovations remain a double-edged sword. We may like to think we have come a long way, but we still face massive challenges that we must confront and conquer. No matter how far technology evolves, it cannot replace basic human needs. We fundamentally require a loving, supportive community to sustain us—a community that reduces shame, embraces vulnerability, and validates our worth no matter how broken we may feel.

On this Independence Day, let us find the time to be truly grateful to the nation that has fought for our freedoms. I know I'm going to share a simple but sweet mission with family! I may even bake a flag cake! To me, this day celebrates the fundamental ideals of democracy, liberty, and the universal right to the pursuit of happiness. It is a time to honor the profound sacrifices of military service members and everyday citizens who have defended these democratic principles. By commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, may we celebrate the enduring birth of the United States as an independent nation.

Let's Celebrate 250 Years of Independence!!

Happy Birthday, America!
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Whatever you do to celebrate...Please be safe!
Happy Tails to you,
xoxo Yvonne