4th of July!

Happy 4th of July!!!

It is currently the 4th of July and wafting in through the door is a burnt smell however, it is not from fireworks, but trash! Here in Morocco we have a 4th of July but not a nation wide celebration of independence. This fact has led to some occasional glum faces around the American camp here, as many of my friends have taken turns reminecsing over what they will miss most about being away from America during this time. As they were talking I began to think about the nonchalant approach I was taking to the whole matter. It isn't that I don't like the 4th of July, I have actually had some of the best memories celebrating the 4th. It is just that I began to realize that I have missed numerous 4th of July celebrations, especially in recent years!

Growing up, back in the days before personal fireworks were banned in Kirkland, our whole cul-de-sac would come together usually for a potluck dinner & BBQ and then a home grown fireworks display. I was always so anxious to start the fun that I never wanted to wait until it was dark. Pop-its kept us occupied for a while as we went through boxes and boxes of the little white popping packets. Then it was the sparklers! All the kids would take them and run around waving them about, writing our names, and making fun designs. Then when we were finished we would run through the smoke clouds that settled in a neighboring driveway, pure bliss! Finally, when the grown-ups conceded that it was indeed dark enough to begin, we would all line up our chairs around one side of the cul-de-sac and watch as our own private fireworks show began. Over the years we had a few close calls with tree branches and mis-firing pyrotechnics, but all it all it was a beautiful event.

The summer before my sophmore year, I was down in Oaxaca, Mexico for the 4th of July. Disappointed to be missing out on the joys of blowing things up back in the States. Our boys set out to find some fireworks of their own, returning with some type of local hand made explosives. Unsure of the safety of this undertaking, the group opted to light them on the rail road track behind the wall of the house where we were staying. I don't remember much of the actual explosion except that no one was hurt and I think it may have attracted the attention of some local authorities.

The following summer I was down at Boot Camp in Florida watching our own private professional display of fireworks and chowing down on piles of watermelon with my team that was preparing to head out to Tanzania for a backpacking trip. It was glorious and one of our only relaxing evenings we had during training. At about 3am though we were all feeling the watermelon and I think the entire team made a pre-dawn trek out to the bushes for a bathroom break!

The last 4th that I remember spending locally was either last year or the year before when I friend of mine and I decided very last minute that we were going to head over to the Bellevue Square Park to catch the fireworks display. The whole evening was fantastic as we found a glorious spot on the grass, enjoyed a beautiful display, got stuck inside the parking garage traffic for over 30minutes.. or was it an hour? Then we took a scenic drive home and listened to the most random assortment of music ever.. including appearance of Barbie Girl and a song from Aladdin!

My 4th of July's have certainly been varied if nothing else and I am sure this year will be the same! The current plan is to head up north for a weekend adventure, so we will see what today brings!