The 4th of July

Many people celebrate the 4th of July for different reasons. Some its a holiday to get drunk and have a BBQ, others its for the celebration of our freedoms. For me, it is a little bit of both. But mostly as a time of getting together with friends and family to celebrate being together. And it will always hold a special place in my heart. My dad absolutely loved the 4th of July. 
Early in life he established it as a great traditional pass time for me. Every year we would go to the firework stand and get as much as his hard earned money could buy us. And with eager anticipation I would stare wide eyed at all of the pretty packages of explosives, like a kid looking at presents under a christmas tree. Night time couldn't come soon enough. I would count down the seconds leading up to sunset and the hour afterwards so that for just a few moments, a years worth of hard work and savings would burn up in loud noise and colorful arrays of flaming brilliance. 

It was my dad's time to be a kid again. To light each of the little boxes, and shoot into the sky fountains of multicolored sparks and deafening booms. He would laugh and run back and forth between them. Being a child and naive of the hardships of making money, and raising a family, and all the responsibilities of being an adult, it was to me, never enough. I always wanted more and more fireworks. I dont think that it was from a place of greed, but from a place of happiness and seeing him enjoy himself, and how it typically brought the family together. 

Even once I was in my teens and even in my early adulthood. We would gather to watch fireworks even if we didnt set them off ourselves. I could feel his excitement as we would watch them. Now that he is gone, the 4th isnt really the same anymore. I still gather with friends and family. And I hold his laughter in my heart. 

So today when you gather with your friends and family. Dont say harsh words. Remember the time that you have with them and make great memories. Dont blow anything off  either!