“Jimmy Dunne Says’

The Palisadian-Post presents an homage to Will Rogers’ column, “Will Rogers Says,” with a column by Palisadian Jimmy Dunne—on life in the “greatest town in America.”

‘Firecrackers’

As we’re all heading into the parties and fireworks leading up to the Fourth of July, you may be feeling some of what I’m feeling.

I don’t remember a Fourth of July where I felt this way—or where our country, as a whole, felt this way.

It’s a time of reflection for all of us.

I remember how I felt as an eighth-grader—it was right around this time of year. A handful of families were gathered around our dinky, kind-of-color TV.

We collectively watched American astronauts take the first steps on the moon. We watched them plant the American flag.

It’s that America that I’m still trying to hold on to. Wanting to believe in.

There sure is a lot of churn underneath the day to day of our lives. Inflation, Ukraine, the environment, interest rates, hate crimes, the stock market. It’s a lot.

Add to the mix the most politically divisive years I can remember.

We’re a car stuck in the mud, and the wheels are just spinning.

The internet, social media and 24/7 stories on our phones doesn’t help.

It seems the more we peel back the onion of who everyone is in our country, the more we discover how profoundly differently we think about so many things.

I sure hope young, bright, passionate, balanced, selfless leaders emerge.

Following in the heartbeats of Jefferson, Adams, Franklin. In the heartbeats of a young Lincoln and Kennedy.

And may they inspire and lift us all. To once again find a singular dream and intention.

In sports, when this happens, a team takes a “time out.”

Half the trick with time outs is knowing when to call ’em.

If you do them at the right time, they’re just what you need.

You stop. You gather together in a huddle. And then you do the most important thing.

You breathe. A little longer than you think you need.

After a moment, you look everybody in the huddle in the eyes—and think about what’s the best move for the team.

You figure out what you need to do to get back on your game.

And, after all that, you think about what maybe you can do to help the team get there.

Maybe that’s what we need to do.

It sure works great for our kids or for those with grandkids.

When they’re all wound up, sometimes the best thing you can give them is a little “time out.”

You have them just sit there—and slow down for a minute.

For just a second, you get their mind off whatever rabbit they’re chasing.

Maybe that’s what we need. Maybe that’s what this Fourth of July is.

A time out.

A chance to breathe.

Personally, and as a country.

To take a little time to think about where we came from. To take a candid look at where we are right now.

To think about what we need to do to get back on track—to one day get where we want to be.

This weekend, maybe the trick is to go out of our way to do one act of unexpected kindness.

One nice gesture.

Maybe waiting a little bit longer at that stop sign to let somebody cross the street—and giving them a look that lets them know they’re so worth it.

Or getting up from a restaurant and sticking your head in the kitchen letting the cooks know how much you appreciated that wonderful meal.

Or maybe on your next walk, flipping your old neighbor’s paper a little bit closer to their front door.

Could be, when your partner least expects it, give them a little kiss—letting them know how lucky you truly are.

One act of unexpected kindness.

Add ’em up across the whole town, the whole state, the whole country … That would be a whole lot of good.

And when you’re watching that fireworks show this weekend, pick out one firecracker.

One fantastic firecracker.

That’s you.

Celebrate how fabulous that firecracker is.

How it’s lighting up the sky.

That’s something to cheer about this Fourth of July.

Jimmy Dunne is modern-day Renaissance Man; a hit songwriter (28 million hit records), screenwriter/producer of hit television series, award-winning author, an entrepreneur—and a Palisadian “Citizen of the Year.” You can reach him at j@jimmydunne.com or jimmydunne.substack.com.