the fourth of july is not my favorite holiday. maybe i am not patriotic enough?
i don't know why i don't love it more. its a paid holiday. thats a lovely enough reason. i love the colors red, white and blue. maybe its because this holiday is a holiday to spend with others, with bowls of potato salad and bbq chicken and burgers and dozens of kids running around laughing until they collapse and cuddle with their moms underneath blankets as they watch the big firework show with the hands over their ears, of course.
but i always end up choosing to spend it alone. despite multiple invites from friends and family. though i usually have a pretty good reason.
the last several years (with the exception of Ft. Vancouver one year with girl friends) i have spent the fourth of july house-sitting. taking care of other's animals and plants. in fact this week or so alone, if you include caring for my own house and animals, i have cared for five different households in some aspect or another. i am not complaining, i have made enough money to pay for a ridiculously high cell phone bill (due to an increase in text messages last month, ooops.)
all the years are blending together... so i can't remember what year i did what... but one fourth of july was spent house-sitting at my aunt and uncles house and my friend ang joined me. we watched the firework show on tv and rented scandalous movies (well, controversial... am sworn to secrecy what was watched. haha.) Another year, i spent house-sitting for a family from church. three dogs. bark. bark. bark. at every firework lit outside.
this year, i am helping a friend out with a regular house-sitting job as she was double-booked. two little dogs, a cat and millions of plants (in a beautiful backyard!) i find myself feeling like i am living in a cave. staying home with the dogs as they are freaking out at every firework lit by the guys across the street. and not talking or seeing anyone human (beyond facebook chat conversations and quick texts.)
somehow i don't mind as much being alone. maybe because i chose for it to be this way. maybe because i am being paid to take care of these dogs and i take my committments seriously. maybe because i just returned from standing on the back deck. fireworks filled the sky from all angles. Happy Valley. Gresham. Portland. sure, some trees were in the way... but it amazing. just me, standing alone on the deck watching beautiful colors fill the sky. and for about three minutes it was a perfect moment and all was good in the world.
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