Fourth of July

We spent Fourth of July with my friend Michelle and her family. Michelle and I met under stressful circumstances, when our sons were born and hospitalized in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. We were both dealing with disappointment and anxiety, sleeplessness and hormones, but still we hit it off and discovered we lived in the same neighborhood 20 miles from the hospital.

Since then we’ve navigated parenting, moving, and medical crises and celebrated lots of happy milestones together. Michelle shares my quick wit and naughty sense of humor, and when we’re together, the conversation gets steadily more outrageous and the laughter gets louder and louder. Where most people cut some discussions off with a “Let’s not go there,” Michelle and I always go THERE. We have a way of raising a ruckus and making our mild-mannered conservative husbands a little uncomfortable.

Wednesday night at the fireworks was no exception. The display was especially spectacular, and we were really enjoying it but anticipating the grand finale. A few times there were pauses in the program and then the fireworks would resume with rapid-fire launches.

V: “Faster, faster! Higher, higher!”

A series of colorful rings of light exploded into the air.

V to Michelle: “Look, it’s the Big Oh!”

Michelle: “Even better--multiple Ohs!”

V: “Multiple Ohs! I think I felt the earth move.”

Michelle: “Me too. I think I need a cigarette.”

V: “That was a great finish. I know I'll sleep well tonight.”

*****

This morning I woke up to an e-mail from our friend Bernie. He works in a multinational office with E in Belgium. (E is the only American.) The office members were invited to a Fourth of July celebration and decided to attend.

While attending the party, a Norwegian fellow asked Bernie, an Englishman, the following:

“Do you have Fourth of July in the UK?”

Bernie’s reply: “Of course we do. It’s right between the third and fifth of July.”

July 5, 2007

Comments

[Flubberwinkle]

:-D

[Peter]

LOL

On a more "educational" note:
most Belgians are aware of the US 4th of July celebration (if only from US movies)

However, the average American assumes Belgium must be "somewhere in Europe" and hasn't got a clue what the national holiday of Belgium may be (trust me, not a single American friend of mine knew -it's July 21 btw)

Isn't it great, living in a country most of the world can hardly locate on a map?

:-)

[V-Grrrl]

Trust me, Peter, there are huge advantages of being from a country with a low profile that no one has an opinion on. When I'm abroad, I have to resist the temptation to try to pass for Canadian.

I think it's interesting that so many independence days are in July. What do you think it is about that month that encourages rebellion?

[Ortizzle]

In Spain, there is no Independence Day for obvious reasons. But they do celebrate Día de la Constitución (Dec. 6th) and... Día de la Hispanidad (Oct. 12th), a.k.a., Columbus Day. But getting back to July being a bellicose month, the Spanish Civil War did start on July 18th, so there you are. Must be because people just get hot under the collar in the summertime.

[furiousBall]

I need a cold shower after those fireworks

[Peace]

Sounds like you had a terrific 4th of July! Isn't it funny how sometimes just being with a friend like that you quickly get on the same thought wave. Nothing better than getting crazy with a girlfriend!

I remember being in Italy over the 4th and being one that just loves fireworks told my husband I couldn't wait to see how they celebrated the 4th in Florence. He asked me "and why would they be celebrating America's independence?"

[platypus]

Yay Bernie! Trust a Brit... ;)

[impy]

I always wondered if England DID celebrate Independence day (July 4th). These days I considered they might call it something like "Good Riddance Day". Snort.