*Disclaimer* This is my story. I am not being compensated in any way.

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Fourth of July is this weekend, so what do you have planned? A barbecue, fireworks, or just hanging with the family? For most of us it means a long weekend

When I was young we would all pile into the car and go to a city near us to watch fireworks. I grew up in Upstate New York and fireworks are illegal unless you have a permit. I know in some states anyone can buy fireworks and set them off. I use to watch them in amazement and as an adult I still love watching fireworks. There is something mesmerizing about those bright lights in the sky.

This year we have been invited to a cook out with friends. There won’t be any fireworks, but it should be a lot of fun. I love getting together with friends, family, and grilling. It  reminds me of childhood. Summertime for me is very nostalgic when I come back to NY, because that’s when we have our local fair, parades, and all the fun family get togethers. It’s bitter-sweet making me long for those simpler days.

My grandmother use to live across the street from the fairgrounds and I remember sitting in the upstairs window watching all the lights from the rides and the fireworks they had in the evenings. My grandma is gone now as is her house and the fair is no longer what it once use to be.

It’s funny how the 4th of July has become a day for family, friends, parties, cookouts, and fireworks…but how many kids know what it stands for? Why are we celebrating and what are the fireworks for? Like so many other holidays, commercialism has taken away the true meaning of why we are commemorating that day.

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What would our lives be like if 4th of July never happened? Interesting thought…too deep for this Monday morning, but something perhaps I will save for another day.

What Are Your Plans for 4th of July?