Pep Talk
Celebrate Your Own Way
In the summer of 1976, I was 11 and away at summer camp for 8 weeks in Maine. The girls of Wyonegonic celebrated the Bicentennial with an all-camp game of Capture the Flag in the acres of a Christmas tree farm (awesome), followed by a barbecue and ice cream sundae bar (also awesome), campfire songs (we loved to sing) and the rare camp fireworks over Moose Pond (we all had a crush on the maintenance guy, the only man who worked at the camp). Bonus! We could wear red, white and blue, too—a change from our usual green uniforms. It was memorable, patriotic and perfect.
Meanwhile, rest of my family marked that Fourth of July at the Tall Ships in New York Harbor. The event was officially called Operation Sail or OpSail, but everyone called it “the Tall Ships.” OpSail was an event years in the making at a difficult time for New York City and America. But those issues did not dissuade our father. Nobody loved a big event more than Jim Dolan. My father had secured tickets to a prime viewing stand and the fam navigated the Metro North train situation from Connecticut to take in the pageantry. The Dolans celebrated America’s 200thwith 200 tall ships and millions of others. Also, memorable, patriotic and perfect.
As we near the 250th birthday of America, I encourage you to celebrate as you wish. Birthdays can be complicated, but in the end, they are worth celebrating. So, find your celebration. Walk on the beach in the morning with your dog. Make Ina’s flag cake or my mom’s blueberry muffins. Take in a parade. Crank the tunes. Thank a veteran. Organize family gaming and sporting at the lake. Bring a picnic of lobsters or burgers or tacos or Bahn mi. Wear your red, white and blue. Watch the fireworks or the drone show or the Milky Way. Whatever works for you and your family is memorable, perfect and patriotic.
Be safe and kind.
Cheers, Lian
Pasadena, California
Link Love
Lian’s Best Beach Bag Books 2026
July 4 Summer Fun Playlist on Spotify
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