Independence Day -- Take 2

How did Joe and I celebrate the 250th anniversary of the US? The way many Americans celebrated. On the surface, we ate hotdogs with friends and watched fireworks. Underneath, there was a whole lot more.

Gathering at a friend’s house was a joy with a dollop of sadness too. We were cancer survivors and current patients (patients is an oxymoron if you’ve had to spend time seeking a diagnosis). We all have suffered loss. But wait, there’s more. Baby Sofia, 12 months, was enjoying the smiles and hugs with her parents. Joe had a lengthy phone conversation with our younger son about coleslaw- types of slaw, how to dress up a hotdog with it, where to buy the best. Who knew? It was fun and life giving to both; Joe’s gift to our hosts.

We watched the tall ships sail up NY’s Hudson River. And shared our stories of seeing the tall ships in the past. We touched on Taylor Swift’s wedding too. Well, I did as I have enjoyed the story. However, I cede real partying to the youth.

Home, we watched France play Paraguay in the World Cup. France was cool, literally. Paraguay played hot and frenetically. Cool won. There’s a reason eminence gris cannot be translated. C’est cool.

At nightfall the fireworks began. We went out on the balcony and watched them fly. Most amazing, was the outpouring of staff from the grocery store across the way. Standing in the parking lot, their shouts of joy were a gift to the ears. They are from everywhere, as are all of us who live in the US. We are all immigrants living in an old democracy. But our democracy is like most of our heritage, 57 varieties. We may be an old democracy but we have a big smattering of teeny bopper, a little cool and a lot of salsa.

Let’s celebrate this, not try to force people to live in a past that never existed. The dream is in the future, not the past. Good luck Taylor and Zoran and Coco and all the young ones out there moving us into the future. Three cheers to new horizons!