Independence Day

This is one of my favorite holidays. When else can you eat hot dogs, watermelon, snow cones and then watch fireworks in a dazed, overfull stupor? OK, so that's not the point of the holiday. So let's talk about what is.

1. Community: We need days like today to interact with friends, neighbors and even complete strangers. Life is about connections and relationships; take the day to remember why you moved to a certain neighborhood, town or city.
2. A bit of nationalism: We're Americans. We're proud to be "free and independent" as Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote. Notice I said a bit. No reason to go overboard and piss off your non-native co-workers at the company picnic.
3. History: In our 233 years as a nation, we've done some things very well and others poorly. Let's acknowledge both and learn how to make the future stronger, safer and brighter.

Happy 4th of July!