Nea Fane – Un Biet Român Pripășit în America / A Hapless Romanian Stuck in The US

Cacti Edition

This Celebration, in my view, is a wonderful occasion filled with joy and gratitude. And yet, the following quote perfectly summarizes my feelings and, it seems, not only mime:

“If you’re feeling sadness, grief, or ambivalence about celebrating the 4th of July this year, that’s actually a sign of how deeply you love your country and want better for her.” – from K.C.

The following remarkable moments, worth mentioning, brightened my day:

1. Relay For America finished exactly when and where was supposed to
2. YouRowKelsey (Kelsey Pfendler) rowed into her final destination
3. Mircea Ship, of Romania sailed into New York
4. Dino was naked
5. The new season of Silo started

Relay for America

The America 250 Relay for America is a non-stop, coast-to-coast relay event organized to celebrate the United States’ 250th anniversary.

Key details about the event include:

• The Mission: The relay was conceived by endurance runners Joe Nail and Wyatt Moss with the goal of “uniting Americans one mile at a time.” It is intended to be a non-political, community-focused initiative where participants carry a single American flag 24 hours a day (key fact: the flag is kept moving continuously.)
• The Journey: The inaugural relay began on June 14, 2026, in San Francisco and concluded on July 4, 2026, at Upper Senate Park in Washington, D.C.
• Participation: Over 1,000 runners participated, carrying the flag hand-to-hand across more than 3,000 miles of terrain, including cities, mountains, and small towns. Each mile was dedicated to a U.S. veteran.
• The “Ordinary” Hero: Both relays emphasize that these aren’t elite athletic competitions; they are open to everyday people, families, and retirees.
• The idea was that the country’s 250th birthday is best marked by the collective movement of ordinary citizens rather than grand official ceremonies.
• No politics involved.

(Various sources)

I followed the Relay on Facebook and Instagram, not just daily, but almost hourly. The thousands of photos shared along the route are living snapshots of today’s America: ordinary people, small towns, veterans, children, volunteers, flags, smiles, and countless moments of quiet patriotism without roaring speeches or headlines. The Relay’s website serves as a quiet tribute to the veterans whose names accompanied every mile of the journey, reminding visitors that behind every dedication is a life of service and sacrifice.

Even if you’re not on social media, a simple internet search will turn up countless photos, television news reports, and personal accounts of the Relay. It was one of those events that people will someday ask about: “Where were you when the Relay happened?”

You Row Kelsey (Kelsey Pfendler)

Solo ocean rower (and Grand Canyon River Guide) Kelsey Pfendler (under the handle @yourowkelsey on Instagram) completed her historic journey from Monterey, California, to Oahu, Hawaii (2,400 miles), in 43 days, 17 hours, and 55 minutes. She departed on May 21 and arrived late at night on July 3, shattering both the men’s and women’s speed records and becoming the youngest person and first American woman to row the route solo.

Together with more than a million other people, we followed her journey, day and night. Yes, night. Watching someone alone in the middle of the ocean has a strange way of making sleep seem optional.

I can only hope that the Whale Foundation, the cause she was rowing to support and bring attention to, received the generous donations it deserved.

I’ll leave two or three links here, but very few photos. Kelsey shared her journey primarily through videos, taking us along with her day after day. By the time she reached Hawaii, countless others were there to welcome her, and her arrival was broadcast live on Facebook.

Even if you’re not on social media, a simple internet search will turn up countless photos, television news reports, and personal accounts of her journey. It was one of those events that people will someday ask about:“Where were you when the Kelsey crossed the ocean?”

Mircea, The Romanian Ship

Mircea is the Romanian Navy’s training ship and one of the most beautiful tall ships still sailing today. Built in 1938 in Germany, she has trained generations of Romanian naval cadets while representing Romania at international sailing festivals and goodwill events around the world. More than a warship, Mircea is a symbol of Romanian maritime tradition, discipline, and pride.

Today, Mircea entered New York Harbor via the Hudson River, sailing alongside tall ships from around the world in a parade worthy of America’s 250th Anniversary.

But first… the fly-by.

I stumbled upon the parade on TV… on Telemundo, of all channels – the Spanish-language station where I usually watch my football games. While browsing through the channels, I eventually found the English-language broadcast on NBC.

It was the first time they had televised the parade live. I would have preferred a more serious presentation, a little less Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and a little more historical commemoration. Still, I’m not complaining.

In fact, I was genuinely impressed.

The bad news? They were already at the letter P.

The good news? They were only at the letter P.

Knowing that Mircea would be part of the parade, I was suddenly hit by a dormant wave of patriotism. I started taking pictures of my TV, which explains the less-than-stellar image quality.

Later, I went hunting on the Internet for the official list of ships participating in the parade.

Here it is.

And now, the video. Despite my best efforts to edit it, what you’re about to watch is still, for all practical purposes (and all unknown reasons), the unedited version.

Dino in Da Hood

What does this metallic dinosaur have to do with the Fourth of July?

Well… everything.

Over the years, Dino has celebrated every holiday imaginable: New Year’s, Easter, Independence Day, Christmas, and whatever else the owner decided deserved a costume. The last time he dressed up for the Fourth of July was in 2024.

Since then? Nothing. Naked Dino. No mo’ joy.

The neighborhood where this sculpture stands has long been a Republican stronghold. Election seasons used to be wild: yards overflowing with signs for candidates whose main qualification seemed to be only “endorsed by…” This year, though, it was a different story.

No flags. No cheers. No decorations.

I was genuinely surprised by how quiet and subdued everything felt.

The only reminders were an old “U.S. Out of the U.N.” sign and a faded “Trump 2028” flag, both looking as tired as the conversation they represented.

The new season of Silo started …

… on Apple TV.

That’s it.

And that’s how I spent my Fourth of July: an early morning walk with the dogs, a day immersed in television and social media, writing on my blog, and an evening comforting the dogs now that the fireworks started.