4th of July

The 4th of July is by far my favorite holiday. I know, most women would argue that Christmas is their favorite holiday. My husband thinks Thanksgiving is the end all be all because of the endless eating and football watching. But for me, there’s nothing like the 4th; it brings out the kid in me again. The 4th is the epitome of summer fun, and I admit that I’m a hopeless romantic when it comes to summer. I get up early, usually try to get out for a run, or bring Bailey to the dog beach. I eat outside every chance I get…heck I’m even typing this outside on my laptop. I can’t get enough, I LOVE summer!

Growing up we’d spend the day at the pool or even the beach and then head to the local fireworks in town in the evening. Sparklers in hand, glow bracelets wrapped around every body part we could manage and a cooler full of snacks, it seemed a rite of passage to summer. I loved laying out the blanket, and leaving my parents until the “show” started and coming back to find them and everyone cuddling on the blanket and oo-ing and ahh-ing at bursting light displays in the sky.

For the holiday this year, I decided Kevin and I needed to get out of the city. Something about staying in the city for such a holiday is an oxymoron to me. My parents dock a boat in New Buffalo, MI and it sounded like the perfect place. My sister and her husband were coming in from DC, and I was so excited to have the whole family together for a few days. It would be the perfect amount of time to relax, grill out, see some fireworks and cruise Lake Michigan in the boat. I was so excited that when we left on Thursday morning I had my swimsuit on under my clothes so I could be ready for anything the day would bring. I felt 10 years old again.

When we got to New Buffalo on Thursday around lunchtime, I needed a parka instead of swimsuit. It was freezing! We tried to eat outside (I had my hooded sweatshirt wrapped around my head, much to the chagrin of Kevin), so we ate our food quickly and ran back inside because the rest of my family was joining us. It was just too chilly to do anything, we couldn’t take the boat out because it was too choppy, we couldn’t lay by the pool or beach because we would have gotten icicles on our bodies, so that didn’t leave us many options. We walked into town and tried to shop, but most beachside Michigan towns are not known for their exemplary shopping. After a few hours of this we retired to our room for a nap. This holiday was not going how I pictured it.

Alas, Friday we woke, and the sun was shining and it was 80 degrees! Back on with the bathing suit! I knew we’d finally be able to take the boat out and I couldn’t wait. After the tedium of the previous day, we needed some adventure. Kevin has been dying to learn how to drive the boat all summer and my dad has been more than willing to teach him. So today was the day. We couldn’t get more adventurous than having a first time boat driver take a 27 foot cruiser onto the lake with the whole family and his anxious father-in-law shouting instructions at him. After gassing up the boat, almost hitting another boat but missing by a mere 3 feet, and enough swearing to last a life time, we were cruising on the beautiful lake.

The wind was slapping at my face, the water splashing at my toes, scenes of people on the beach could be seen from a mile away, and jet skiers swerved past us. This was what I had been waiting for. It’s hard to talk when you’re cruising on the boat because it can get pretty loud, so I took some time to myself just watching the water. Water is very healing for me, and I have a need to be around water often (I am an Aquarius after all). This is the weekend I was due to have Nicholas, and truly I felt ok. But I kept having flashes that we should have all been in a hospital room in Chicago welcoming the newest member to our clan instead of vacationing by the beach. They weren’t painful visions, more so I just wanted to remember and honor him. But being out on that water, the world and all of its injustices seemed miles away. By the time we got off the boat my curly hair was knotted and tangled, my lips felt sun burnt and we were all starving. But my mind was calm and I couldn’t have felt more at ease.

We concluded that day with grilling steaks and chicken next to the boat on my parent’s dock, and drinking plenty of non-alcoholic champagne. The cold came back and my mom went on the boat and brought out blankets and coats for everyone. I put my hooded sweatshirt back on my head, and snuggled up close to everyone under the blanket. The music was playing and every angle we looked in the sky we could see fireworks from different towns. Minus the cold, I couldn’t have been happier. Even though I don’t have my own children yet to share my favorite holiday, and we might not be spending them at the boat every year, I thought how appropriate it was that even though I’m 31 years old, cuddling under blankets and watching fireworks was just what the doctor ordered.