What does the 4th of July mean to me?

Like the millions of Americans who will be celebrating the anniversary of our Country’s’ Declaration of Independence from Great Britain, we too will be celebrating.  We are after all born and raised in the USofA and love our Country.  We are proud to be American.  And why shouldn’t we be?! When I think about what it means – to me – to have been born in this Country, I think about my Grandmother because she is the reason I am here.  She is the reason my mother and her siblings came to the United States.  Her dream was to become a citizen of The United States.  It was almost as if she was born in the wrong place at the wrong time.  I never got a chance to meet her, but from the stories I’ve heard, she had a strong passion and determination to do MORE.  More than being a housewife in a small poor town in Mexico.  She had many dreams.  Many dreams that died with her at the young age of 40.  When she died, my Grandfather made it his mission to fulfill her dream of bringing their children (eight in total) to the U.S.

That’s what I think of when I celebrate the 4th of July.  I think of her.

This day also marks another important piece of history in my own personal life that will always make me appreciate the 4th of July that much more.  It’s my Husband’s birthday.  He is indeed one of the lucky few to have been born on the day that our entire Country is celebrating the night with a spectacular firework show.  For the past 14 years that I have been with my husband, we have always done the traditional Barbeque ritual with our families, followed by cake and ice cream before heading off to the show.  This year, however, is the first without a Barbeque.  It is a little weird but in all honesty, it’s kind of a relief.  No planning, no grocery shopping, no prepping, no cooking, no mess.  Instead, this year (at the last minute too) he decided he wanted to spend it at Great America.  Hopefully, the holiday crowd won’t make us regret our decision. We haven’t been there in over 10 years so we are a little worried.  Just a little.  More excited than worried to tell the truth.

This will also be the first time our oldest kiddo will be going.  In a way, I am hoping that this is the year we cross the fork-in-the-road that brings us to a change in how we celebrate this special day.  For starters, it would be nice to celebrate it in our own home next year if that’s what we decide.  The past 12 birthdays have been either at a park or at his Aunt and Uncle’s house because we don’t have the space for everyone in our little condo.  God bless their hearts for hosting a 4th of July Barbeque with my Husband’s birthday! Maybe next year we will be able to host it in our new home.  That’s my dream.  Lucky for us we are in a country where that is a possibility.

Happy 4th of July 🙂