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Add to Cart button will convert to a Checkout button. Click on that and you will be taken to the Checkout Page where it will ask you to Complete Purchase. When you click on that you will be taken to a PayPal page - You don’t need a PayPal account as you will be taken to a page for your credit card. A little confusing, but just wanted to take you through the steps.

Your Life Has Already Been Designed Shut-In Economy Gratuities How Technology Tricks You Off The Wall Manufacturing & Millennials American Craftsman Ads That Make You Think Growing Up in A Small Town The Country Cousin In Us All Lessons From…

Painting for America: An Artist's Take on National Pride The Fine Art of Art Who the *$&%# is Jackson Pollock? Advice from an Artist Art Place The History of Crate Labels Oay it Forward - Art Lifting Under the Covers…

Remembrance of New Year's Past Sally Edelstein Plowing Through Wintry Lessons by Kay Thomas Finding Me by Janet Kuplinski The Real Places in Our Lives by Rev. J.F. Hudson 5 Ways to Get Inspired by Tama J. Kieves Wishes Granted: Theo…

  Embracing Autumn's Harmony by Kay Thomas, How I Spent My Summer Vacation by Gloria Doty, The Real Housewives of the Cold War by Sally Edelstein, I'm Just Sayin' by Shelly Gail Morris, A Family Tradition by Barbara Hamp Weicksel,…

Saving America for Posterity by Carol Highsmith, Garden Rebels by Daisy Luther, Vegetable Gardening by Claudia Ficca, Occupation: Housewife by Sally Edelstein, A Deeply Moving Portrait by Kristen Talluto, Hope by Mary Valentino, Roll Up for the Mystery Tour by…

Back to the Future by Sally Edelstein American Nostalgia by Tami Richards Gettysburg by Carl Whitehill Paul Revere House by Nina Zannierri America’s Main Street by Arielle Botter Homeless by Karen Tremer Feeding America Open House by Ella Jenkins Trickle…

The Real Story About What We Eat by A. Lappe Dry Land by Amy McVay Abbott Snowy Evening – Photo Montage by Elise Fallon You Are the Light by Tama J. Kieves Winter’s Cold by Dennis Page Portraits of Americans…

Reasons to Serve by Nipun Mehta Maryknoll - Serving the Poor by Mike Virgintino Share Your Stuff by Jeremy A. Smith You Are in the Best of Times by Tama J. Kieves Letting Go by Judy Buczek One Word by…

Coming to the Promised Land An Eagle Named Freedom by Jeff Guidry Veterans History Project Iraq Mosaic by Jayel Aheram Honoring All Who Served by Jennifer Russo Loia Life in the Fast Lane by P.C. Moorehead StoryCorps Eccentric & Quirky…

 

Recent Posts

All American Barbecue

Suburbs BBQ

The Smell of Democracy in the Air

Every July 4th our split level development would be shrouded by the smoke of burning charcoal, the sizzling smell of democracy was in the air.

Besides a parade, nothing was more quintessentially American than a July 4th back yard barbecue. Like some sacred Old Testament tradition of sacrificing an animal to please the Lord, every Independence Day a burnt offering of seared flesh was offered up in homage to Uncle Sam.

And in that confident mid-century soaring bull market, Democracy was as vital to our health as a Delmonico steak.

Dad knew tossing a hunk of meat on a sizzling grill, the ubiquitous package of Kingsford briquettes at the ready, proclaimed to the world “I’m proud to be an American.”

The Smell of Capitalism In The Air

Wealth from Waste

In fact nothing was more American than those Kingsford briquettes. Invented by the quintessential American capitalist Henry Ford as a way of further lining his own pockets, Ford had a better idea. By charring the wood scraps left over from his Model T’s and mixing them with starch fillers and just the right amount of chemicals, industrious Mr. Ford created briquettes.

Ford Briquettes

The smell of democracy was indeed in the air - nothing reeked of capitalism more than turning industrial waste into profit.

Excerpt from Defrosting The Cold War:Fallout From My Nuclear Family Copyright (©) 2014 Sally Edelstein All Rights Reserved

 

 

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