A Little July Celebrating

For oh, I don’t know, THIRTY years or more (actually, a few more than thirty) I have been celebrating July Fourth in one very specific location and in one pretty traditional manner.

July Fourth, for the majority of my life, has meant a trip to the farm in Virginia.

Last year all the things were cancelled and so staying home was the way July Fourth went down.

This year, due to a month-long cross-country trip by the patriarch and the matriarch, and also a gall bladder being removed from same patriarch, July Fourth at the farm was once again a no-go.

Did I weep when I heard the news?

I mean, yeah, if you really need to know.

We keep these Nature Notes and a little family journal and for the past week or so every entry, for as far back as these entries go, is about the farm.

Went tubing down the muddy Pigg River.
Bergen caught a bass in the pond.
Chased a rainbow with Uncle Nate and Aunt Emma.
Target practicing with Uncle Stin.
Visited Homestead Creamery.
Attended a bird watching class in the front yard.
Kelci led us in yoga on the lawn.

The memories are stacked all sorts of high and I’ve had to basically pretend it’s not THE July Fourth in order to cope with not breathing the glorious Virginia mountain air this week.

For all I miss of my favorite annual tradition, we’ve all had a lovely weekend celebrating America and one another, friends who feel like family and fireworks too.

We’ve played a heavily contested game of kickball, we’ve been tubing down the Green River, we’ve eaten hot dogs and the most amazing home-fried chicken you can possibly imagine. We’ve sat under twinkling lights and cheered for fireworks set off in backyards by high school students.

I’m grateful for where I am. For people who love me and mine.

For celebrations that have been, that currently are and that are to come.

________________________________________________