here's the thing about july fourth.
independence day is one of those non-familial holidays where everyone's goal is to party in the best way possible and maximize the shit out of the celebration. now don't get me wrong, i love a party as much as the next lady, but there is something very stressful about this mentality. halloween and new years are the largest, scariest examples of this (as one of my favorite authors, sloane crosley discusses here) but the summer holidays–memorial, labor & independence day–have their own, faux-laid back version. as a child i could settle for town fireworks and a hot dog, but as a sortof adult, i feel a certain obligation to make a big deal out of things like this. people are skipping off to the beach, to the lake, hosting elaborate bbqs with backyard firework displays. i am happy for these people. i envy them their relaxation, their sunshine, their fresh air. however, try as i might, i never feel like i can live up to them or their travel plans.
but this year, in the stuffy, toohot city, i managed to find my own, improvised holiday cheer; patriotic brunch, the astoria pool, an enviable dinner menu, rooftop fireworks, homemade cocktails and the greatest of companions made my jealousies melt away. it was fun, festive, inexpensive, and we didn't even need a jitney to get there.
so here's what i have learned: no holiday will ever be a disappointment if you spend it with drunk fools who know how to bring their potluck A-game.
my god! how little do my countrymen know what precious blessings they are in possession of, and which no other people on earth enjoy! –thomas jefferson
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