Skyrockets in Flight (woooh)

Can we talk about the Fourth of July for a second?

Yes yes, I know it's the day of independence and I'm absolutely thankful for the freedom I have being an American, but with that awesome freedom comes some pretty great times. 

Fourth of July might just be one of my very favorite holidays, mainly because of the memories I have to relate to it. My first few years out of high school, the fourth was a time when I got to see all of my friends who had moved away to college. We'd all come back in town, pack up our cars, and head to the beach to witness one of the most epic fireworks shows put on by one of our friends whose dad was in demolition.

These shows always got a little tricky because the boys would be the ones lighting the whatever-it-is-you-light to make the fireworks go BOOM and they always lit them with cigars. Safe, I know. Well, one year, one of the morons guys put the whatever-it-is-you-light in the tube upside down and it almost took out the whole crowd. You've never seen a group of barely 20 year old's run so fast in your life until you've seen a firework ignite and rocket right at them as they're casually chilling on a sea wall.  

Keep in mind, these fireworks are highly illegal for personal use here in the sunshine state and, well, it was also quite the adventure when the beach patrol would come chasing after the boys to confiscate said illegal fireworks. I hang with many law abiding citizens, clearly. Pretty sure we already knew that though.

Fun fact: I once chipped a tooth on a beer bottle one of those summers on Fourth of July. Sand + clumsy and partially drunk Whit + glass beer bottle = bad combination. For the record. Luckily I didn't eff up my tooth too bad and I'm still hanging with the evidence, which is a little chip on the back of one of my top teeth. 

Ooops.

Awesomely festive tank via The Shine Project

Fourth of July is also one of my favorites because there's usually hot dogs on the grill, cold beer in the coolers, and lifelong friends all continuing to add memories to our never ending mental scrapbooks. That combination alone is truly one of my absolute favorites and one of the reasons I always look forward to this holiday.

Getting a day or two off of work isn't so bad either... 

And don't give me the hot dog schpeal, it'll never change my pure adoration for said concoction. 

This year? Well, this year I'm hoping to continue some of my most favorite traditions... sans chipping any teeth or taking cover from angry fireworks that haven't been properly lit. 

Hot dogs on the grill, ice cold brews, great company and memories I'll never forget. 

Dammit, I love 'Merricaaa and I love celebrating it.