How Do You Celebrate Independence Day?

When you work in real estate holidays can become just like any other work day.  After all, this is when people are off from work and have time to see homes. I don’t resent it. It comes with the job and I love helping people find the place where they will make memories.

Today, however, I  found myself with no appointments so  I was scrolling through social media reading what everyone was planning for the 4^th of July holiday.  Some were going to the mountains or the lakes, others were attending barbecues, and still others were meeting family or friends.

 It started me thinking about ways I have celebrated in the past.  As a child I loved July 4^th and what was not too love?  It was the height of the summer vacation.   School seemed like it was a long way off.  The days were filled with exploring, playing in the park and riding our bikes in the evening with the smell of Jasmine in the air.  I am sure I didn’t understand the larger meaning of the holiday. It wasn’t until I was older, I understood what had been sacrificed so we could celebrate this day. I was even older before I understood what American Exceptionalism really meant. 

When I was very young, my family would go to the local park to watch the fireworks.  We’d look for a good place to spread our blanket and then we kids would run around and play until it got dark.  When the fireworks started the oohs and ahhs would send a thrill down my young spine.  I especially loved the ground fireworks that would be a flaming Statue of Liberty or an American Flag.  When I got older, we would light fireworks in our yard and sometimes there would be a block party where all the families would meeting in the street.  Being a bit of a chicken I was content to play with my sparklers while we watched the older kids light the rockets, whistlers, and fountains.   We would pretend the sparklers were fairy wands and loved to see the streaks of light as we ran with them.  I’m sure it was dangerous but it was a time of innocence that I feel may have been lost.

As an adult, we try to recreate that feeling by meeting family and friends at the local park. We usually bring a big cooler of food and drinks.  The kids throw a football or run through the park with electric pinwheels and glowing bracelets.  The adults sit, eat and talk about everything under the sun.   If there is a good band playing, we might dance to the music.  By the time the fireworks start, we are happily full of good food and good conversation.  We sit in our lawn chairs as we oooh and ahhh the fireworks.  I always try to see if I can get better fireworks photos than the year before.   When it is over, we always talk about how this year’s finale was better than last year’s as we pack up our blankets and cooler. Then we make our way to our cars, patiently maneuvering around others with wagons and carts of sleepy kids.

So how do you celebrate Independence Day? What is your family tradition?  I’d love to hear what you how you make this day special.

If you’re looking for an event to start your own family tradition, you might want to check out the fireworks at Belleview Park/Cornerstone Park.  It’s a free event sponsored by the cities of Littleton, Englewood, Sheridan and the South Suburban Parks and Recreation.

Schedule of Events
Cornerstone Park (5150 S. Windermere Street)
10 am - 7 pm	Colorado Journey Miniature Golf (fee charged)
Noon - 2 pm	Batting Cages Open
3 - 9 pm	Food and Novelty Vendors (fee charged)
3 - 9 pm	Slide, Bounce Castle, etc. (fee charged)
7-9 pm	Live Band - Euforquestra
9:30 pm	FIREWORKS!
Belleview Park (5001 S. Inca Street)
10 am - 6 pm	Pirates Cove open (fee charged)
10 am - 4 pm	Miniature Train open ($1.75 per person)
10 am - 4 pm	Children's Farm ($1.75 per person)
3 - 9 pm	Food & Novelty Vendors (fee charged)