“What’s your favorite thing about July 4th?” I asked people this week.
“Fireworks!”
“The parade.”
“Patriotism.”
“Good food, good company.”
Mississippi
In addition to these things, I like the atmosphere of excitement and anticipation, the smiles on people’s faces, and the relaxed summer vibe.
Another small town
Last year, my husband Mart and I marched in our local parade with our church. It was the hottest Fourth of July in the history of record-keeping—at least the history of my record-keeping. But we all grinned and made the best of it, sweating buckets, waving at the crowd, and wishing thousands of people “Happy 4th!”
Despite all the record-setting, we had such a good time we’re doing it again this year. (And I just ordered this personal fan to keep me cool.)
Savannah
In 2018, we had another memorable Independence Day experience: a party at our friends’ home in Italy while we were on vacation there. It was a beautiful evening that ended with a big surprise. You can read about it here.
NYC
About 30 years ago, I was touring Switzerland with a group of friends. Our tour guide, Rolf, made sure that our itinerary placed us in Geneva on July 4th. American ex-pats sponsored a huge July 4th party, complete with live music and food trucks selling the Swiss version of hamburgers and hot dogs, Coca-Cola products, and July 4th t- shirts. (I wish I still had that shirt.) The fireworks finale rivaled any show I’d ever seen at home.
Georgia
Since then, I have spent many Independence Days with family in a small north Georgia town that also knows how to do holiday celebrations well. We see patriotic t-shirts and hats and bunches of bunting (whatever that actually is). We eat at our favorite Mexican restaurant, gobble up a fudgey treat before it melts, and visit an antique shop or two. It’s always a fun day. I just did that today, in fact.
Photo credit: Frank Seco de Lucena
Even though this is a divisive time in our country’s history, I’m grateful for the freedoms we enjoy in America. It’s easy to take those freedoms for granted and to lose sight of what we have, simply because we’ve always had it.
I’ve truly been blessed to travel to many other countries and cities, and there’s nowhere else I’d rather live. Happy Independence Day, America!
What’s your favorite thing or memory about July 4th? Let me know in the comments.
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