4th of july...

i can remember...
fireworks on the 4th of july...
in new jersey...
in the phillipines..
in denver & aurora...
in california...
on the beach in mexico...
in florida....
some when i was growing up...
some when the girls were growing up..

this year...
4th of july was quiet..
there is a hill ..less than a mile from where we live...
i drove there...
sat in my chair...
i could see fireworks from 5 different locations...

i watched...
then came home...

sometimes...
4th of july is like that...
sometimes...
new years eve is like that...
sometimes...
birthdays are like that...

my point is...
not all celebrations have to be loud...
not all celebrations have to be visual...
celebrations..
should be about appreciation...

whether loud, visual..or quiet..


todays music...
is..."ubran angel" by natalie walker...
it's an ode to new york city..
but it could be an ode to almost any city...
a place where you appreciate..
being able to sit on a hill..
watching 4th of july fireworks..
and celebrating..
quietly...

"she pulls us in
and wraps us in her chill
she holds us close
and now we can be still
we’re okay here
we’ll stay here
for a little longer

we embrace this common ground
all a little lost
somehow it fits
she holds part of all of us
forever and content

no matter how many times I leave
i always hear her voice calling me
i could be a million miles away
but its here, I'll always have a place..."