Happy Fourth of July!

Something a little different — today I’m sharing a writing assignment I wrote in a writing workshop earlier this year: 250 words of a Fourth of July memory. I thought it would be fun to post here.

Happy Independence Day to fellow inhabitants of the U.S., and a happy Sunday to international friends.

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They say the stars at night are big and bright deep in the heart of Texas, and that’s never more true than on Independence Day.

Sitting in the back of a pickup truck or spread out on the ground, staring up at the vast blue-velvet night sky scattered with diamond stars which are already gorgeous even before the fireworks display. The expectation, waiting . . .

And there—an extra starry burst of explosions kaleidoscope across the night and fill the air with a bang. The colorful fireworks light up the night like memories light up the heart. Laughter and family. Pointing—ooh, there’s another firework—no, over there!

Prickle of grass, sandpaper-sidewalk feel where you sit, concrete still warm from earlier sunshine.

Fingers sticky with ice cream sandwiches, messy in the firework-lit dark, but worth it for the delicious taste filling your mouth with cool, creamy sweetness.

Then up and dance about (yes, safely), spinning with sparklers in either hand, showers of silver-gold sparks falling, writing your name on the dark or swirling fire circles before the flame winks out.

A night breeze cools the remembrance of summer heat, and with it a tang of gunpowder scent on the air, white-grey smoke clouds drifting wispy-faint across stars and fireworks and inky night sky.

Fourth of July, a night filled with stars of all kinds to light the shadows with brilliance.

A night when the firework stars are certainly big and bright, here deep in the heart of Texas.

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Thanks for reading! Happy 4th!

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