It's July 4th, Independence Day in America. It's hot. I hear firecrackers in my neighborhood. I'm a little sad because I miss the old days, the days of my childhood. We always had a picnic. My dad always set off firecrackers, and we kids held sparklers after dark.
Now my dad is gone and my mom is an hour away. My husband is playing golf. We have no plans for later in the day. Normally, I would love a quiet day to myself. I have time to read a novel if I want, go shopping if I want, go to the pool when it opens at 11:00 a.m. But today is a holiday and I feel like I should be doing something special. I have no children or grandchildren to entertain; it's just me and my four cats in the nice, cool, air conditioned house. I wish I had a beach to go to, but I am landlocked in the American Midwest. I'm not sure I want to go outside anyway because we are in the middle of a heat wave; it's ten degrees warmer than normal for July. Everything is dry, the grass is crunchy.
I feel lucky that I have my home, because I realize that people in western states have lost their homes to wildfires. I feel lucky because we still have power; people in eastern states have no power so no air conditioning. I shouldn't feel sad. It's just a weird holiday, I guess.
I know what you mean. There is always pressure to do something interesting on a holiday.
ReplyDeleteI understand too. Maybe just think of it as you celebrated early with your trip to Philly and DC. Two very definite Independence Day places.
ReplyDeleteA Philly area gal,too-
Mary
It's so good to have people who understand... thanks so much for your comments.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, too, we had an early holiday in D.C. and Philly!
I've been in that place Judy. No grandchildren and although I have a daughter she lives in Germany and we don't Skype because it makes her homesick, and me sad! Meanwhile celebrations come and go here in Australia and we try to make the most of them, telling ourselves we live in a very democratic and abundant country - which you and I both do!
ReplyDeleteI can't believe it was 30 years ago I was in Philladelphia and Washington -it was hot then too! Time flies!
Pam, I certainly know what you mean about time flying. Sometimes I hear music that seems totally contemporary to me, then I realize it's from forty years ago!
ReplyDeleteI remember being in Washington when I was ten years old and we had no air conditioning... it was very hot then too.