– Carmen Baylies
As a United States citizen, I proudly believe in freedom and the pursuit of happiness. Independence Fay takes a deeper meaning for my family, and spending the weekend with my loved ones is a cherished annual event.
My father, Herman, rolled out the grill, and we combined an impromptu Father’s day celebration with the 4th of July. We had a nice afternoon, dining on a couple of brats paired with some oven-roasted green beans and a herb-celery potato salad. The fact that Dad prepared to celebrate his 70th birthday in August warmed my heart. I am blessed and grateful that he still gets around by his own power and is in relatively good health after a few recent troubling scares.
Peter and I met with my Mom and stepdad, Chris, for a quick visit for the holiday weekend itself. The afternoon held a riveting conversation as they explained their next adventure to Dallas for a travel agent convention. Prepping to take all precautions, seeing my Mom and Chris excited to return to their retirement lives was heart soothing. As we left to head home, Mom showed off her blooming tomato plant that was large and in charge.
We traveled home to rest for a few moments before the festivities continued. Peter’s mom, Susan, and her companion, Vance, came over to our home, so we could all go and watch the fireworks together at the local shopping strip. With our busy schedules, Father’s day passed without Vance receiving a gift from us. So, we took the occasion to present something we hoped could be useful to Vance and let him know how appreciated he was. I think he enjoyed the gift and thought.
What could it be? A timely gift, perhaps! 
Happy 4th of July, Susan!
As time ticked by, we traveled to the area where a fireworks display would take place. Greek Fiesta was the restaurant that filled our dinner needs and provided outdoor seating where we saw the light show perfectly. The fireworks showered the sky with colors while we listened to the local radio DJ played wonderful tunes. I captured a short live video as we took in the scene.
Taking the opportunity to fulling enjoy the holiday, we hopped out of the car and walked to the movie theater conveniently a few feet away. The attendance was fairly large, and parking was at a standstill for longer than we liked. The film, Cruella, served us delightfully well to pass the time and allow the traffic to clear. Spending an evening with Peter’s family and seeing how happy that makes him is a reminder of the importance of family and making time to enjoy their company.
We said our goodbyes and trekked home after a full day. Peter and I took the next day to relax and enjoy each other’s company by recapping the abundant activity we experienced. Celebrating freely with our family helped rejuvenate our spirit.
Also, Be civic and remember to vote!