This one feels hard to write. Not because the Fourth of July is particularly sentimental or some such, but because SO MANY ideas came to me when I was on my way to work and “Hot for Teacher” by Van Halen started playing on my iPod.
Do I take the most appropriate (and frankly, super obvious) approach of talking about our history and all of the fore-fathery stuff?
Do I say something politely patriotic?
OR
Do I talk about the things that I love most about what we have available to us here in the US?
In no particular order, and certainly not limited to these items below, this is what I love about the place I live. And I recommend you absorb every single thing on the list.
Independence Day – The movie from the great year of 1996. Take time to savor the scene right after Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum destroy the aliens when they strut across the Salt Flats in Nevada smoking cigars.
Born in the U.S.A. by Bruce Springsteen – Just try and tell me this isn’t one of the best albums ever. Actually don’t. You’re entitled to your wrong opinion.
Captain America – Let’s be clear. I’m talking about the comic book hero. The movie was great and all, but Cap looks best in print.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald – one of the loveliest books I ever read in my American Lit. class.
Mark Twain and Walt Whitman – crazypants authors who shocked people at every opportunity. Incidentally, July 4th is also Tom Sawyer Fence Painting Day.
Van Halen – What is more American than a band that has dramatic break ups, reunions, and really really loud drum solos?
Happy Friday!
