You're Killing Me, Smalls!

The 4th of July is my favorite holiday. It never turns out quite like I think it's going to, but nevertheless it is tied up with Easter as the all time best holiday of the year. (Please see It's Not a Party Until Somebody Cries) Whenever I picture what type of celebration I am going to have, I picture the Sandlot. Maybe a pick up baseball game on a dirt diamond, fireworks exploding as we play the all American pastime. A block party where all of the neighbors get together and barbeque hot dogs and hamburgers, everyone decked out in their red, white and blue finest. Dads looking like Ken dolls drinking scotch and beer, moms popping mother's little helpers as they scramble to make a potato salad that can feed hundreds of demanding children, who, incidentally, are using their outside voices. Okay...this isn't sounding as awesome as it was at first. But you get what I mean.

By the way, didn't you all have a crush on Benny? I know that at my age I risk sounding like a bit of a cougar, but Benny was so cute! I believe he is single handedly responsible for my love of Converse sneakers. And then he grew up to be a Los Angeles Dodger, as if he couldn't be any more crush worthy! Though once he made it to the big leagues, he was not very good looking. At all. It was nothing short of tragic.

Anyway, I always set out with the best of intentions to create a holiday that brings back a sort of all American nostalgia, a tapestry of all things patriotic. Think s'mores and pool parties, barbeques and the Beach Boys, tossing the baseball around and the smell of hamburgers wafting through the air. Instead I usually drink way too much beer, and find myself watching my husband do dangerous things with fireworks while we all belt out a very off key rendition of Proud To Be An American. Hey. What can you do. Nothing ever ends up quite the way you plan, but it's still my favorite holiday.

So this 4th of July, remember that it doesn't matter which side of the aisle you are on (although come on, let's face it...there is only one right side!). Whether you celebrate by drinking beer, lighting fireworks, going on vacation, or eating veggie burgers, don't forget to take a moment to revel in your freedom and thank the powers that be for all the opportunities provided as a result of that freedom.

Unless you live in California, where you either have to have a permit, pay a hefty fine, pay a lofty tax, and prohibit all things profitable. But hey, the marijuana is legal!

Have a safe and happy 4th, ya'll!

"Let me tell you something, kid. Everybody gets one chance to do something great. Most people never take the chance, either because they're too scared, or they don't recognize it when it spits on their shoes." ---The Babe, Sandlot

Photo Courtesy of blog.moviefone.com