Wish I Were There

I love the 4th of July. I love the history. I love the parades. I love seeing flags everywhere and I get choked up when I hear the Star Spangled Banner played. I love the picnics of fried chicken and potato salad with chilled watermelon eaten for dessert. I love seeing who can spit the seeds the farthest. I love reading the Declaration of Independence - when I was eight I started a tradition of reading it every Independence Day. I love being outdoors all day long no matter if it was blistering hot and then waiting patiently for it to finally grow dark enough to set off fireworks. Or even better, finding a good viewing place to see a community fireworks show.

I'm a fireworks junkie. I'm a history junkie. I am a freak for Thomas Jefferson. And I love my country and I'm very proud of her. It's no wonder that, after Christmas, the 4th of July is my favorite holiday and it's no wonder that today I'm especially homesick.

So someone do me a favor. Someone eat some fried chicken for me. Someone put out their flag for me. Go to a parade and wave for me as it passes by. Spit some watermelon seeds for me. And someone light a whole box of sparklers for me and say "Ohhhh!" and "Ahhhh!" when you see some especially spectacular skyrockets. No need to love America for me today. I can do that wherever I am.

Happy Birthday, America.