Thursday, June 30, 2005

Fourth of July

July 4th is coming - Independence Day.
Most people, I think, have a particular image that this date brings up... what's yours?

Is it the flag, the red white and blue? Patriotism and historical symbolism of freedom? Probably fitting for this time in American history, what with our liberation (or has it been classified as an occupation yet?) of Iraq and all. Or maybe it's fireworks in the night sky - all the explosions of color that make the crowd go ooh and ahhh en mass. maybe it's something more homey and intimate, maybe sparklers and fireflies, little dirty feet and roasted marshmallows.

The fourth of July has whole different connotations for me, though it relates to those other things as well. As a child there were always crowds at the house, sweltering in summer heat, while my mother kept busy in the kitchen. The meal always differed, hot dogs, hamburgers, sometimes barbecued chicken - and on rare occasion, steaks. There was always, without fail, Cole slaw, potato salad, baked beans and macaroni salad. But for me, it is a day of
three things:

charcoal smoke,
the smell of sulfur,
and cake.

You see, on the July fourth I'll be 33, and there will be flags and freedom, light shows, large and small - fireflies will flit and sparklers will earn their name. Marshmallows will brown, melt, and flame, and my house will be filled with 5 filthy pairs of little over-tired feet.

But for me it is the day to wake up a year older, one day wiser. There will be hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill, ketchup spilled on the porch, smiling faces, residual sparkler drawings at the hand of child artists,
and too much cake.

18 comments:

  1. And I hope you have a wonderful day while you're at it.

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  2. remember the 4th of july birthday where you were out to-------------there! with Terra and we were trying to come up with ways to get you to go into labor? *grin*


    i'm still jealous you get fireworks for your birthday.

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  3. E, where's the sixth pair of feet? You should get yours properly dirty this year too! There's something that feels really good about running around with bare, filthy feet. :o)

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  4. Happy early birthday, E! I'll just be coming home from helping Mom pack more and cut some grass, hopefully burn the living bejesus out of my lilly-white fricking skin and hopefully rest up for for some pretty volatile grain markets (as they've already been thus far) and just keep on keeping on <--- as I hope you do with much health, good luck and all good things inclusing success and blessings to you on your special day! ~ML fan for life, MikeyC HUGS~!

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  5. Thanks guys!

    E~
    I've told you before, I am the personification of "barefoot and pregnant" I never wear shoes, and I'm sure my feet will be properly dirty this 4th :)

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  6. Happy early birthday!
    Most people, I think, have a particular image that this date brings up... what's yours?

    This is not what you wanted to hear I am sure.

    Blood, hospitals, death, tears, heartache...

    Remember the scene in The King and I? The original one I mean. Where they set off fireworks to celebrate the life and death of her child? I cry every year at the fireworks while the rest of the world celebrates the life and death of my child.

    I also get morbid, unsociable and downright moody this time of year. Just in case you couldn't tell.

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  7. Ah yeah Magdala, that's August in its entirety for me. Alexis was born 8/17, and died 8/29. I am much the same, impossible to speak to, hateful and basically swing from evil to hysterical.

    One of the hardest things about it is that my oldest daughter's birthday is 8/15, so I have to play nice for the day...

    Not a good month all around.

    *hug*
    ~E

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  8. July was 1999, my next mostest favorite time of year is April Fools Day. Apparently the Universe decided that that was a FINE joke to play on me that year, take away what I loved the most. And my father died on Christmas eve, can I not have a day that I can quietly forget out of all these deaths? I have no idea what day my grandmother died on for instance...I have no desire to remember so i don't. But the others are all freaking holidays damnit.
    *grumblebrumblebitchwhinemoan*

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  9. *grumblebrumblebitchwhinemoan* ?

    I think you have plenty of justification in that.

    I can't imagine losing someone on Christmas eve. How shitty is that? And April Fools, just seems cruel doesn't it? I'm sorry Magdala. Feel free to *grumblebrumblebitchwhinemoan* here anytime. You know what they say about misery and company :)

    *hug*

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  10. We miss your wonderful critiques at Versifier!

    Have a wonderful, wonderful birthday.

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  11. Hi Ginger,
    Thanks for the birthday wish!

    I miss the poetry at the Versifier too!

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  12. I recently bought Ani D's live dvd "Trust"...it had a poem on it i'd never heard before. I think on the fourth, besides having happy birthday wishes for you, I'll be thinking of this:


    Ani Difranco: Grand Canyon

    http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/anidifranco/grandcanyon.html

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  13. wow - i just realized she refers to feminism as 'the coolest f-word ever'...heh - hadn't even heard this till I bought the DVD.

    Great minds...

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  14. heh, that's cool Raz, I remember that piece - I was afraid it was just gonna be fuck fuck fuck this fuck that, and I had the wrong F word all along ;)

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  15. lol - i remember the commment you made about it, too! (the whole 'fuck fuck fuck' thing...) well, lol - I can't say that I blame you. Fuck's the salt and pepper of my everyday language.

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  16. lmao Raz, mine too, in real life. My kids' friend's parents are all like Oh, I'm sorry! When they say damn, and I'm like, "Oh fuckit, they've heard that word before"

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  17. Wow, mine was the 1st! Happy Birthday!

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  18. Happy Birthday my new friend!

    I interviewed a 6 year old girl tonight for my video diary. I asked her what July 4th meant for her. She said it was fun, there were fireworks and she gets presents like shoes and things. Maybe it was her birthday too!

    Always, always wake up a year older on your birthday and be thankful for yourself! I surely will be for you!

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