Reflections

  It was   1976 . America was celebrating its Bicentennial, fresh on the heels of Watergate and searching for steady ground. At the same time, my parents were in the prime of their careers, growing   Swicegood Real Estate of Mocksville   and moving into a brand-new office they had just built on Salisbury Street. I was nine years old, watching both my family and my country find their footing.   That year, I played  George Washington  in Mocksville Elementary School’s Bicentennial celebration. My grandmother Gobble, lovingly sewed what I believe were three Revolutionary-style uniforms for me—complete with knickers and buttons. I didn’t just wear them for the play; I wore them proudly to school and even on a family trip to Williamsburg. It was a time filled with patriotism, community pride, and a sense of belonging to something bigger than ourselves.   Now, nearly fifty years later, America is preparing to celebrate its  250th anniversary . Look...