I’ll share some tidbits about America, but first a snippet on marriage. For any men who feel the First Amendment is an individual’s right in America, just know it’s not. When the woman with whom you share a bed asks your opinion about her intelligence, weight or cellulite, to keep yourself safe remember, you don’t have freedom of speech when you’re married.

The president of the United States makes $400,000 a year, but that’s not a lot in comparison to previous years of presidency. In 1789, when George Washington was president, he made $25,000, which is $896,000 in 2025.

By 1909, President Taft made $75,000; that’s $2.6 million in 2025. Taft made a lot of money, but then he needed it — he was a big eater, and presidents have to buy their own food. William Taft consumed at least one and sometimes two 12-ounce steaks with each meal, and it showed ,because he stood under six feet tall, but weighed 340 pounds.

He tried dieting, without luck because eating lean meat and vegetables without butter is practically like inviting darkness to settle into your soul (my words, not his). The other dilemma was President Taft genuinely liked to eat so he had a milk cow, and fresh milk equates to fresh cream, and … oh, gosh, I’m gushing. Just reading it put little red hearts in my eyes.

This president’s form of exercise was, and I’m not making this up, horseback riding. Please, horsy people, don’t yell at me about the benefits of horses. I’m merely pointing out that to get rid of two steaks off one’s backside, one would have to do some walking, and this president wasn’t up for it. In fact, he was the first president to own a car.

It’s a sure thing, William Howard Taft and I would have been besties.

When it comes to foods, visitors to the U.S. say there are several items recognized as distinctly American; burgers, hotdogs, fried chicken, mac and cheese, buffalo wings, biscuits and gravy, clam chowder, lobster rolls, chili, jambalaya, apple pie and chocolate chip cookies.

I couldn’t have said it better myself. I love all that, too, but I’ll mention I’ve had jambalaya so spicy it would melt asphalt. That should be stated on a billboard.

Amazingly enough, New York City, which is celebrating its 400th anniversary this year, is one of tourists’ favorite places to visit in the U.S. and reportedly, the Statue of Liberty, Times Square, Rockerfeller Center and Central Park are the apex.

I was surprised, of all places to explore, a city of over 8 million people was a highlight. Thankfully, visitors also like Mount Rushmore, the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Golden Gate Bridge, The White House, Disney World and Hollywood. Hollywood? Please, try to stay sane.

Let’s mention some amazing people in America, but first a word about bone marrow. It’s the spongy tissue in the center of bones, and makes 200 billion new blood cells daily.

When Alexandria Reimold was an 18-year-old student at Purdue, she registered to be a bone marrow donor. Four years later, United Airlines pilot David Whitson was the recipient of Alexandria’s bone marrow and she was a better match than his brother. The two have met several times for hugs.

There’s also Brian Harris, who stopped at McDonald’s for coffee one day, just as Paul Meyers suffered a massive heart attack. Brian administered CPR and used a defibrillator until the ambulance arrived. The two men are now lifelong friends.

Retiree Lyn Story enjoys driving people like Kevin Horrigan, who is legally blind, and Apryl Goodwin, diagnosed with uterine cancer, to treatments. After hearing of Lyn’s selflessness, a Philadelphia car dealer honored her kindness with a new vehicle.

Darlene Plasse-Young, a homeless woman, used the last of her money to buy a bike for a 3-year-old whose bike was stolen. The community rallied, giving over $11,000 to Darlene to pay off her car and get into a home.

We have a kind neighbor across the street who helps a troubled young woman by allowing her to stay at his place when she needs support. One morning last winter, while Gar was in Florida and our neighbor was at work, the young lady washed the front windows — in her black bra and panties.

I texted Gar explaining what he’d missed across the street, and he lamented, “Great. When my ship comes in, I’m always at the airport.”

America is great. We know this by the number of people trying to enter versus the number trying to leave. Happy Fourth of July.