At home in America on the 4th of July

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The Fourth of July is a good day to blog about the U.S.A.

On the long drive home from watching the evening city fireworks, we finally committed to this blog. It had seemed too big an idea, and also a bit misguided. The latter because we are not that patriotic, and don’t want to be mistaken for zealots. Too big because where do we start, and how do we proceed? It would be neverending and potentially all-consuming. We’ll just have to keep the effort under control.

I think it was the car trip, rather than the holiday sky display that talked us into it finally. It’s hard to not be captivated by such a vivid (and noisy!) show of moving lights and surprise sky hits. Everybody yells (or whispers) “ah” or “ooh” and that’s spontaneous. Every time it is like it is new.

Although, the scene of sailboats proudly tripping across Lake Washington that preceded was something we had never known before; it was very affecting. Also, viewing the colors and flashes in the exhibition mirrored in the water was uncommonly delightful.

Always, every year, almost too tired to make the automobile’s wheel in hand afterward. Just want to keep sitting on the lawn chair and rest. But we had to get up and line out with the crowd as we have in the past. With the car door closed then and finally, beyond the crowded park road, we could muse as we traveled along the familiar streets and reviewed the earlier day as it went by.

The Fourth of July is Like Several Days Packed Into One

The Fourth of July is like several days packed into one. In the morning, the local parade. You’ve got to go out to the street and watch the dad neighbors steer vintage cars and trucks, some of which may or not break down before the hour is done.

A mom neighbor occupies the side seat of an ancient motorcycle that looks like it was glued on as an afterthought. You’ll need a folding stool and a couple of bottles of water to make it to the end. Be sure the dog is on a leash and bring the potty bags for him. Kids? No problem. They are in their element and having a blast. This is their kind of day.

You might be hosting a gigantic sit-down lunch with all the family gathered. This could even be indoors if you live in one of those hot-hot environs the U.S. provides and the older people beg for an air-conditioned repast. Or you are running about fixing a backyard barbecue to start at 2 p.m. every year. It’s got to include grilled hamburgers and fries, regardless in what state or region you reside. Even more so, hot dogs are the king of foods on this date.

Writing About America

We decided it would be fun to write something about living in America. To do so, we’d narrow it down to what we had become most interested in and felt we could address pretty well: decorating our homes. How do we do that, what can we say to help others too?

There is no single way to do this in America: there are so many ways. It would take years to explore all the possibilities. Well, we have the interest, so we are making the time for it.

Practically, we’ve got to tell you, we enjoy stuff. We like to understand and discuss things you can buy or make that help to make a house a home. It sounds trite, but it is not. It’s real. It’s part of life and a part that helps make our existence happy. That’s what it is all about.