The complete lack of responsibility on the morning of the 4th of July fills an entire community with relaxation.
Total and complete relaxation.
We may get in a hot car to go somewhere, but the windows will have been down.
Kids hop in. Kids hop out.
They have no shoes, or perhaps they have one primary colored flip flop.
Nobody cares.
Neighbors wave to neighbors.
Nobody is doing anything important…aside from spending time having fun and laughing.
Hot dogs are vital. Beer and soda lives in coolers on ice.
Somewhere a car is left open and the car is dinging. Nobody really cares.
It smells of smoke bombs and the sulphur laughter of snakes on sidewalks.
Each gethering has at least one person who has always been a pyromaniac —and is proud of it.
Like a gambler, the amount of money he may spend on his habit is incomprehensiable to others.
At the fireworks stand his kids stand on awed tiptoes as he buys his wares and punks.
Shrinkwrapped in CHINA, made in the USA.
We do not celebrate the birth of a nation.
The immigrants and elderly family members do not weep. Churches stay out of it. Liquor stores stand proud with flags. With specials. It’s OK.
On the 4th of July we grill burgers and eat potato salad.
We light sparklers with other sparklers.
The evening is hot.
We revel in summer.
We celebrate our freedom by being free.
-bd
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