On the 4th of July the year I turned 13, we had just moved from New York back to Texas. I was wearing a terrible floral print sleeveless blouse and jorts, and frolicking at a riverfront park while listening to the vocal stylings of Garth Brooks as he belted out “Friends in Low Places.”
My grandmother tapped me on the shoulder and said, “Garth Brooks is all the rage these days! Don’t you just love this music? I bet you missed country music while you lived up north!”
I laughed and agreed that it was just the best music ever, silently noting to myself to hide my Vanilla Ice tape when I got home.
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On the 4th of July during my second senior year in college, I was working part time at a grocery store. I was wearing an awful maroon apron and scanning groceries for minimum wage while listening to the same seven pop songs set to muzak played over and over again.
A customer patted me on the back and said, “Gimme a pack of Marlboros please” as he bought and paid for enough beer to drown a small town.
“It’s a great day for a party,” he exclaimed.
I smiled and agreed that it certainly was, silently cursing him and all his carefree friends since I was scheduled to work until nearly midnight.
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This 4th of July I’m living the life of a mom and a wife in Kansas City. I’m not wearing yoga pants today because it’s too damn hot. I’m probably in a sundress. My family and a few close friends are singing Happy Birthday to my soon-to-be-two-year-old son.
My husband will put his arm around my waist and whisper that he loves me, and I’ll be thrilled to have him home on a holiday for once. We’ll watch our kiddo blow out the candles on his cake and be glad we were able to fit in a small party for him while we had family in town.
Our friends will say, “More sangria please!” as we settle in to watch the fireworks from the park next door, and our little ones will race around the yard with glow sticks and splash in the sprinklers.
We’ll smile and count ourselves lucky to be free, silently thanking God to have been born in a country that, even though it has its problems, is still great.
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Happy 4th of July, all! I hope you are having a wonderful time. Please be safe and responsible with fireworks and keep those who are in the path of all of the horrible wildfires in your prayers.
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Oh! And I almost forgot. It’s Wednesday, which means #iPPP! Got a great camera phone photo to link up with us? Please do so!
This is my favorite from the week – a screenshot of a conversation I was having with my BFF about her young daughter’s dietary needs when Autocorrect suddenly made things awwwwwkwaaaaaard.
<div align="center"><a href="http://www.mamamash.com" title="Mamamash"><img src="http://mamamash.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/ippp-polaroid-125-x-125.jpg" alt="Mamamash" style="border:none;" /></a></div>
A) BAHAHAHA. That was hysterical. Henry wondered why I was laughing so hard.
B) I consider myself so lucky to be able to spend the holiday with you guys and your family.
C) I’m pretty sure, every time we’ve talked, you’ve skipped over the part in your life story when you lived in NY.
You’re family too, dear. And yes, I haven’t gotten to that part yet, but in all fairness, you didn’t share certain details with me either until last Saturday. Ahem.
Best. Autocorrect. Ever.
That is hilarious!
We already celebrated Canada Day here, it was July 1 – we went camping and got high off the fumes of the weed a horde of teenagers smoked next to our campsite. That was fun.
But I’m watching Independence Day every day this week and I’m fondly thinking of my time in Boulder, Colorado, when I celebrated July 4th there.
Happy 4th of July!
Enjoy your little boy’s birthday party. It’s wonderful to be surrounded by loved ones during these special times.
Your screen shot cracked me up! I don’t know if I would have had the foresight to take a picture of that.
Thanks! I’m hoping it’s a lot less hectic this year because we minimized the guest list and hoopla surrounding it. (I’m so anti-birthday parties for little kids!)
I knew as soon as I saw the Autocorrect that I needed to screenshot it.
Have a happy and peaceful 4th, MamaMash.
Keep writing…
Thanks, you too!
LOL!! You know, I wrote my post for #ippp BEFORE I read this today, so obviously what I say at the bottom rings true
Happy 4th!
HA! I know we’re probably obnoxious with our posts, but I’m just so glad to have found her. And we have too much fun for it to be legal, really.
HAHA! That autocorrect is a real jerk sometimes. Love your 4th of July recollections (I think we had the same 13th FoJ, lol, only mine was in FL). Your current reflection brought a tear to my eye – it sounds like it will be a wonderful day – enjoy!
You rocked the jorts and the Garth too huh? Awesome! Enjoy your holiday!
Happy Fourth of July!! Gotta love autocorrect.
Thanks, Alison! Autocorrect is the source of much embarrassment and entertainment.
Also, yeah, you’re not posting nearly enough baby pics. Need. More. BEHBEH.
Autocorrect is the bane of my existence! It recently change a “so much” into douche. My email read “Thank you douche”. Yeah….that went over so well!
Happy 4th to you! May you find wonderfully cool adult yummies to keep you hydrated today. Happy Birthday day to your youngin!
I would have DIED. Oh my gosh.
And thanks!
Happy 4th! I love the funny autocorrect – my husband and I can spend hours laughing at them.
Happy 4th to you too Katie! DYAC makes my husband and me cry every time. I mean, on the floor rolling around laughing!
I’ve got friends in low places where the whisky…oh wait…I was supposed to be leaving a comment.
I hope you bought nothing with spermicide for the party.
There is zero spermicide at this party. I assure you. Not that we’re encouraging sperm to frolic unfettered or anything.
Um what kind of party are you having???? I’m glad you didn’t bring any of that nonsense to my house.
I heard you already had plenty.
I already commented last night, but I think WordPress ate my comment, probably because it was so delicious.
Love you ippp link-up and that autocorrect with the spermicide is just one of the best ever. I always thought those were made up, but it’s the real deal!
Happy Fourth of July!
WordPress is a hongry beyotch, snackin’ on my comments all the time.
Yeah, that autocorrect is 100% genuine! Totally mortifying, just glad it was Greta.
I hope your fourth of july was exactly like you envisioned it.
It was wild! But the kids had so much fun, so the exhaustion was worth it.