July 4th!!

"The Star Spangled Banner" sung by Whitney Houston, Bellagio Fountain Show in Las Vegas

Happy 4th of July!

today is our independence day, it is a day where
we celebrate America's independence!

on July 4, 1776, we claimed our independence
from Britain and Democracy was born.

as a little girl, my family always celebrated
this day with a family bbq, my mom comes from a
family of 12, and every year we would all get together
at my Uncle Pat's house, he had a pool, so we all
swam like fishes, and ate like pigs (sorry mo)

he had a plastic statue of liberty, so when you arrived
at his house lady liberty was there to great you, and
each one of us got a flag, and a box of sparkler's

my uncle and cousins would always go into NYC to
buy the fireworks off the streets, as its illegal to
sell fireworks here in NJ and NY, so at dusk the
elders would lite the fireworks one by one, and the
show would begin!

i remember standing back, as the entertainment
began and watched in amazement as they went up in
the sky and wonderful colors emerged!!

one year my middle nephew just happen to be in
the way, and a flash of light came flying down and
hit him on the leg, i will never forget the look of
horror my sisters face, as my nephew hopped up and
down, he was fine, just a small burn, which left no
scar, however from that incident, each year we would be
pushed farther back from the shooting of the fireworks

when my uncle passed away, the tradition
faded, however the memories i have from this time are
with me forever, and more so in my heart


i have always wondered if others have these same
cherished memories, of a day we American's declared
our Independence, a day we are now grateful for!

America! Happy Independence!