Happy 4th of July!

July is a great month - it's my granddaughter's birthday, my birthday, and the 4th of July! When I was a kid, my grandparents lived a couple of blocks from the University of Arizona so we would all gather on their front lawn and watch the fireworks. So many great memories. The whole family would be there including my great grandmother.

Tonight my kids are coming over with their families for some roasted chicken, red-white-blue chili, watermelon and homemade marshmallows (not yet sure how those will turn out!). Jeff is also bringing a blueberry cobbler or pie. Then we'll take to the front yard with our fireworks - fountains, little jumping flowers, and sparklers for the kids.

I love fireworks - it's one of my favorite things at Disneyland. But somehow the fireworks on the 4th feel different. Whether they're the small street-legal type that we are allowed to have in our city, or the big displays over San Francisco Bay, they're all a celebration of our country. And, even with all our current problems and conflicts and naysayers - it's still the best place to live.

Happy Birthday, America!