Monday morning cup of thoughts

thoughts about the 4th of July

Image by Suzi Wilson from Pixabay

The 4th of July has always been a holiday favorite in our family. When my children were young, we would vacation every 4th in the small town of Graeagle, just a few hours from where I live now. Graeagle would celebrate yearly with a parade going down the two-lane main road through town. The street was lined from one end to the other with people in folding chairs. Our children would often sit on our shoulders for a better view of the parade participants. At the conclusion of the parade, we would make our way to the frostie restaurant a few blocks away. And at dusk the fireworks over Mill Pond would commence.

In the early years, my kids were young enough to be frightened by the sound of the fireworks. We would scoop them up in our arms, reassuring them that they were safe and encouraging them to peek at the beauty in the skies above.

Many years later, I still gravitate toward tiny towns that love celebrating the 4th. Our city of Cool has a parade tomorrow morning. And while we can no longer enjoy the fireworks living in a fire community, we will make up for it by celebrating with friends at breakfast tomorrow morning on the parade route and attending a BBQ across town in the afternoon.

I bought a painting years ago in Graeagle that spoke to me of those 4th of July parades. It’s hanging in my entryway this year, reminding me that simple pleasures and the love of family and friends are most important. And while I’m physically no longer able to hoist my kids onto my shoulders, I hope always to have the ability to nurture and encourage them to find the beauty in life.