Celebrating July 4th the old-fashioned way

July 4th feels so different this year.

Most of us won’t see fireworks or spend time at our favorite beach or community park. Some people are getting on the road again, but they’re mostly taking drive-to vacations close to home. As a nation, we’ll celebrate this holiday at a much slower pace than normal, exploring socially distant pastimes like camping, fishing and the old-school drive-in movie.

It’s not what some of us are used to, for sure. But honestly, I don’t think it’s all bad and, in many respects, it harkens back to an earlier time. There’s something to be said about embracing a simple life and simply being together. 

For me personally, it feels very natural. From the age of seven, I grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota, in a small community with a town center. Every July 4th, we would string red, white and blue crepe paper and maybe a few baseball cards through the spokes of our bicycles and ride over to watch and often ride in the parade. There were ice cream cones and sparklers. There was a grilled hamburger and hot dog at least once during the day. It was a simple time. And we were content.

Today, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the world has slowed down. My wife and I welcomed back our four adult children and we’ve been in isolation together for more than three months. All of us are working remotely, but we eat dinner together each night and get out for a walk most days. 

While each day is full of worry about COVID-19, its impact on so many, and the urgent need to make progress in addressing racial inequities, there is a faint silver lining and that is the gift of this time with each other and the simplicity with which we are able to spend it. Many families are together, at home and have the time to linger around the dinner table. In an always on world, there is something refreshing about this change and I’m grateful for it even as I long for the changes we need to see. 

We will celebrate this July 4th much like we did when I was a child – flags, sparklers and definitely ice cream. And I plan to enjoy every minute of it. By the way, the two patriotic kiddos in the photo accompanying this post are my daughters in the early 1990’s, celebrating a Fourth much the way I did as a kid.

I’m curious to hear your plans for the holiday. What are your traditions? Share your stories. And please have a safe holiday.