July 4th without the Bang

Memories of July 4th always include family, neighbors, friends, a neighborhood parade, the pool, and fireworks. But this 4th was unusual because we stayed home by ourselves.

I had been excited about a barbeque at a friend’s house in DC, but that invitation was cancelled when “domestic problems” upstaged the barbeque. For a fleeting moment I thought my daughter who is home from Boston might join us in celebrating, but seeing her friends had a higher priority. One set of neighborhood friends are in Argentina. Another are entertaining an elderly aunt. So that left us on our own with only Jake and Dylan for company.

As we cooked dinner and thunder announced a possible storm on its way, my husband said he was just as happy to be staying close to home. The thought of sitting down on the mall and getting drenched just had no appeal.

The only reminder that it is Independence Day is the distant sound of fireworks and the occasional firecracker that affects Jake just like thunder does. He has been pacing around with his Kong in his mouth for hours now.

This has simply been a holiday that will leave no lasting impression. It didn’t even involve a day off from work. It was just another day much like a yesterday and probably like a tomorrow.