Happy 5th!

Happy July 5th!!!!

For many, this is the work holiday, so I thought I'd put up a little patriotic post today.

Saturday, our little suburb threw its fireworks celebration.  Unfortunately, Natalie was sick so I stayed home with her.  But my husband and son went, road the rides, and came home with perfect flag-striped stars on their faces.

Last night, with one sickie and one exhausted little boy tucked into bed, Russ and I turned on the Macy's 4th of July Extravaganza.  I've never been one for fireworks on TV.  I have boothed a few fireworks displays in the past--from the control room at the news station, going back and forth between downtown Raleigh and other area explosions.  We've gone to fireworks shows and even set off some of our own from the end of our driveway.  But watching on TV?  How can it be as powerful?

But it was.  Aside from the annoying cutaways of the big screen and dancing Americans (do the people at home really want to see that?), the NY fireworks from the Hudson were quite spectacular.  We heard every pop and explosion, and the music!  A wonderful array of patriotic sound from the last few centuries of the USA.

I tried to embed the video, but couldn't find one that did it justice.

So happy birthday to the USA.  On July 1st, my husband officially became free of his military duty.  He served four years as an active officer, and four years inactive reserves.  They could have--but didn't--called him back to serve during the last four years.  But now, it is over.

I am extremely proud of his service and his willingness to give even more than he was called to do.  But I am also glad it is someone else's turn.