From my friends Jim and Chris .
When it comes to occasions that strengthen community, the Fourth of July is second to none. Winter celebrations are cool – literally – but are mostly limited to indoors. For spring and summer, festivities move to the great outdoors and are more amiable for friends and neighbors.
On the Fourth of July, however, an entire country comes together to mark the birth of the nation (247 years old if you’re counting) and revel in our shared values, ideals, and freedom. The patriotic nature of the occasion gives strangers something to talk about and celebrate with each other.
The Fourth has been defined by community-focused traditions for generations. Parades march up and down streets in cities and towns big and small. Beaches and backyard pools are filled with merrymakers. And, of course, the nighttime sky flashes with fireworks from sea to shining sea.
This week and all its festivities are an opportunity to reach out to your fellow celebrants and use your power to make connections. Everyone has a story to share about what America means to them, and yours might just trigger a new friendship with someone from your neighborhood.
Red, white & blueberries
If there’s a common thread to all July Fourth celebrations, it’s food. Sometimes, it rains on parades, beach parties, and fireworks shows. Even when that happens, there are always hamburgers, hotdogs, mom’s potato salad, and grandma’s blueberry pie to help us celebrate.
If you think about it, the culinary delights of July Fourth are one of the things that bond us. Recipes are not only passed down through generations but also shared with friends, and those get passed across generations. Your mom’s potato salad? It might have come from her mother – or from her next-door neighbor!
