OK, I know it’s the 5th, but it’s still the 4th of July weekend.
Most people lump the 4th in with Memorial Day and Veterans Day as “patriotic holidays,” and they are. But the 4th of July is different. Unlike the later two holidays, the 4th isn’t solemn. It’s simply a celebration of our nation’s birth. It’s a celebration of being American. It’s time for BBQs, family gatherings, and fireworks.
So what does one do to celebrate the 4th of July living in a foreign country with no family nearby and a husband deployed? The answer for me was nothing. Yesterday was just like any other Saturday. There were activities going on, but since I had no friends going to them I didn’t try to take the kids myself. There’s nothing that makes you feel lonelier than being in a big crowd of people having fun with their friends and family when you don’t have any there yourself. I would’ve loved to take the kids to see fireworks, but they didn’t start until 22:30 which is waaaay past their bedtime. So like many holidays I’ve experienced while my husband is gone, I knew it was a special day; it just didn’t feel like one. When your husband’s gone, everything feels off.
My family back in the states was having a cook out. I chatted with my brother for a bit before going to bed, but then many people arrived at my parents’ house, and he left. It’s been such a long time since I’ve been to a family picnic. I can’t wait until we move close enough to be able to attend one again. And singing “America the Beautiful” as the recessional at mass today? That made me homesick, and I haven’t felt homesick for the States in a long time. Sure, I want to go back, but Europe has really felt like my home for a while now.
So I hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July! And if you didn’t? Well, you’re not alone.
