so, i stood in the entryway and watched the fireworks that were high enough to be seen over the tract homes between me and the celebration. i stood with my back against the mirror/wall, with the boys (ages 5 and 42) seated in the chair in front of me. i stood behind them, which was a good thing, i naturally get sappy seeing fireworks. i come from a long line of marines (ok, my mom married two of 'em and my aunt was one) and i tend to be easily carried away by displays of american spirit. patriotism's gotten a bad name these days, as it's being confused with blind loyalty, and not the original meaning of the word, the original spirit that gave a people the energy to cast off the government that oppressed them. but i digress. i always digress.
the boy and his dad walked out on the driveway during a break; the two men, having man-communication, sharing the fourth of july. i watched them interact and reinforced my decision to keep the family together in spite of the recent conflicts. we can do this, i thought, and i leaned hard against the mirror/wall, pressing my sore back against the straightness, taking deep breaths.
and this is a small and minor display of pyrotechnics. new york (as i'm watching now, in replay) had a production that makes ventura college's look like kids with matches. still it stirred me, not the intellectual me that examines the issues these days and objects to much of this governance, but the me that grew up a marine's daughter, with the easy tears prickling my eyes at pictures of a dad in uniform, at the idea of a dad defending this country.
i stood with my back to the mirror/wall, with everyone in front of me so that they could not see, and i saluted my dad, and all the patriots that put it all on the line for their country. that's what being a patriot means, you know, putting your life on the line for what you believe in.
happy fourth of july, fellow americans. others? i'm sorry if we seem assholes sometimes, but please know that at least some of us, mean well.
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now, go read Ezrael. thank you.
I salute you, my friend...
As a vet myself and son of a 30-year vet, I know the feeling well, kd!
thanks, Tess, that means alot.
and, Linkmeister? thanks for your service, and that of your dad. i can't thank you enough.
I'm not entirely sure what Independance Day celebrations must be like, because we don't have them here. While I was out last night the first bar I went to had lots of American flags, but this was just met with "Oh yeah, it's 4th of July isn't it?" and "I have a great urge to go wave a British flag". Also Vicky's boyfriend is at Camp America (or something like that) so she said he had the day off.
As for fireworks, they naturally remind me of Bonfire Night and New Years.
i'm glad it was a day in peace (aside from this incident at LAX).
Wow kd I sit here in awe with tears in my eyes you are an amazing person. I also was emotional last night while watching the fireworks emotional for my country emotional for the freedom I fight for within my own personal life so the emotions were very strong. Thank you for sharing from your heart it deeply touched me.
beautifully written, beautifully felt. i'm ashamed that i had none of those feelings yesterday, and couldn't be bothered to go outside and see the display that i could hear not far from my apt. i thought it was just fireworks.
What a beautiful post and heartwarming sentiment, kd. There are a lot of wonderful things about America and about Americans: you're one of them, my friend. :)
Good stuff. Very graphic. Sounded to me like I was reading a novel.
Patriotism is a very good thing. It is also very good to know that there are Americans like yourself who have an open mind and will not necessarily agree with all that Uncle Sam and his Govt. dictates. You are all a very powerful nation and have lots to be proud of, however, good constructive criticism of your contry's affairs is necessary there (and in any other country). Hope you enjoyed the fireworks, it's not something that we get a lot of here at all but I have been in the US on July 4th previously and it was quite nice to watch. Enjoy the rest of your long weekend, I have to go to work again:-(