America, AMaryca

Oh What a Happy Independence Day!

There is nothing quiet like a good 4th of July, is there? And today was extra special.

Tomorrow my Great-Grandma turns 90! Wow! This may be extra special because she has been saying that she would die every year since I was like 8, and well, I'm far from that now. But I think the most amazing part is all the life she's seen- everything she's lived through. I love listening to her tell stories, though sometimes the facts are embellished. . . hmmm, maybe that's where I get it. . . she loves to talk about that past. I love sitting at her feet (metaphorically, of course) and learning about my family. In fact, I carry a piece of them around. I inherited my Great-Great Grandmother's wedding ring, but that's a story for another day.

So today, we celebrated her. I took it all in. I made sure to enjoy every moment, even the one's that weren't with her, but with my cousins, aunts, uncles, or grandparents- all the people that were in that house because of her.

She is a funny bird, and I say that in the most respectful way I can. She hates pictures, hates big fusses, and well, frankly, hates being the center of attention, or so she says. BUT today, she let us take pictures (mainly because I wanted them, and well as the oldest great grandchild, I have a special place in her heart), and after much protesting on her behalf, we sang Happy Birthday and I watched her face light up. She looked so beautiful.

After cake, she pulled out old photo albums. Some of the pictures were of us grand-kids (1st and 2nd generation) but some were of her and her hubs. She just wanted to reminisce, and she had plenty of people who wanted to hear.

Next on the list of things to do was spending time with my mom and brother, who is home for the weekend from NASA (he's interning and a genius). We went to a movie, then hit up the local custard place. While there we caught a spectacular fireworks show. . . bunches of them actually from all across the ridge. The sky was full of light, and it was beautiful.

When I finally got home, it was time to go back to school work. However, I just couldn't pull myself away from the show one of my neighbors was displaying. Glorious fireworks! I stood on my porch and took them in. I don't know many of my neighbors, sadly, but all the one's I do know were out and enjoying being Americans. Following each majestic explosion I could hear my neighbor exclaim her excitement. She has Autism. While watching the show and hearing her joy, I remembered my childhood. She was the only girl in my neighborhood my age. We never really played together, but we would swing- in our respective yards- and continually repeat "hello" back and forth for what seemed like hours. She is the one who got me interested in Autism. It was the subject of my first research paper in elementary school, I followed this interest throughout my schooling, and now I work with kids who have it. All of this because of one girl who will never know or fully comprehend the impact she has had on my life.

Funny how today, the day we celebrate our country's independence is the day that I celebrated my interdependence on the people around me.

God, thank you for blessing me with these wonderful people and help me never forget the lessons they, and others, have taught me.