Pandora's Box

I have always had a complicated relationship with Independence Day. On the one hand, my birthday has always been overshadowed by the dramatic display of patriotism that occurs on the 4th of July. So often, planning birthdays has meant pulling together the few people who didn't already have plans to go out of town for the 4th. It's hard to resist turning a four day weekend in the middle of the summer into a trip out of town, no doubt. Now my birthday isn't actually until the 6th, but it's also difficult to resist taking advantage of that holiday from work to celebrate my birthday.

On the other hand, I like the close proximity of my birthday to this festive occasion. There has always been a part of me that attributes my own strong sense of self to the associated national holiday being referred to as "independence" day. And now that I'm an adult, I've finally overcome that instinct to flinch when those really loud popping fireworks sound off like a gigantic gun in the sky.

In honor of the day (being the 4th still and not yet the 6th), I found a set of fireworks called Lady Liberty Fireworks that come sans that jarring "boom." So enjoy and have a Happy Fourth!