Happy After 4th!

Watch the fireworks the other night? I sure did. I have this little ritual which may sound a bit silly, but I like to watch and softly hum the national anthem under my breath. Under my breath is a requirement, because I'm not known for singing very well.

Except this one time in college, when I was belting out some song in church. At the end of the service, the guy in front of me (flanked by two adorably pretty 'friends') turned and asked 'Was that you singing?' A tad shaken, because my lack of singing ability--by that time in my life--was already fully ingrained...I did reply with a somewhat meek 'yeah'. Only to get 'well you were amazing.' in return.

Now that I think about it, I should have tackled him and planted a big smooch on his face, really cute girly bookends aside. But I didn't. And...well, that's an odd segue from talk of fireworks and a national anthem...but when I write, I'm never entirely sure what will erupt.

We did try to take photos, but they didn't come out. So nothing to post here, except a cool arty thing I did on printshop!

No, it is not quite the same, but still pretty spectacular, huh? And this year is the first fourth without my dad. He passed away last year. And there was a running joke, my entire life, about how kind it was for everyone to celebrate his birthday in such fashion. Because he, too, was born on the 4th of July. So this year, when I was done humming/singing softly, I added a quiet, 'happy birthday daddy'. And it just felt right.

Thanks for reading.