womenvets

Thursday was the half-way mark for the rest of the year, and Saturday is the Fourth of July – celebrating 233 years of freedom and independence and if you keep up with world events it seems there are many people around the world who could use the same, too.
I am celebrating my own personal independence – I dumped the loser of a boyfriend I’ve been supporting for the past five months. We met just before my birthday, and he wined and dined me (once) on that day special in my life. It was all down hill from there. There were a lot of pros, but far too many cons, if ya know what I mean.
I also committed on the half-way mark that the rest of my 2009 would be better, and I put together a vision board of cut-out words (“Live It Up! Awaken the Strength … Budget”) that I want to reflect the rest of my year, which has admittedly been pretty shitty (financially speaking) for many of us Americans.
Growing up in the 60s, we were allowed sparklers, and fireworks, and neighborhoods would shut down to compete for best show. Had a brother-in-law once, (crazy for holidays), who would do it up, and the pithy neighbors actually burned their house down trying to beat him.
I have spent the Fourth of July holiday in at least 15 different states in my life. The best, so far, was the five-star buffet and roof-top seat looking over Lake Tahoe a few years back.  The show at the Mall in Washington, D.C., was also a stand-out holiday one year.
When I was little and watched the show at Dutch Clark Stadium in Pueblo, I remember being scared to death.  And once, at a fireworks show at a community fair, something went horribly wrong, and shrapnel and floating pieces of fire rained down on the crowd I was in the middle of that year. My hair started on fire, and honestly, a stranger threw a cup of beer in my face to put it out. Now, that was a memorable year – (I will never forget the smell of my burning hair.) Watching the fireworks so close to feel the power in the middle of the winter in Lake Havasu, Ariz., is pretty cool, too, because all the big companies descend into the desert to test out the shows they will put on all over the world on the Fourth of July.
This year, I’ll be at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta Park, and watch the power of pyrotechnics with, I know at least, a couple of thousand other people.  There are bands, family fun areas, beer gardens, and of course, the fireworks.  We’ve had rained, but somehow, someway, the rain always seems to stop during a fireworks show, in my experience, anyway.
After a stress-filled first half of the year, I am optimistic the last part will be stellar, and I plan to go to the show on our nation’s holiday with that intention.
As a veteran, though I can’t help but think of our troops stationed everywhere but the U.S. A., and how their heroic service means that much more when we are at parades and barbecues, and complaining about our lives, while they are trying to just, stay alive. Say a prayer for them before you eat your meals this weekend. Collectively, perhaps it will reach them overseas.Oooh, aaah, Ooooh, aaah. Happy Fourth!  http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D91N5RPO0&show_article=1

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