Freedom 2006
By JoeBruin88. Filed in Events, Friends and Life |Tags: 4th-of-July, Events, fair, Friends, Life
In a break from past Independence Days, Josephine and I celebrated at the fairgrounds again, along with our friends John and Gina and their son, Aiden. Past 4ths have been spent at other friends’ homes, going out for dinner, or watching television. This is the first one where we had no kids with us, each of them were doing their own thing. As with other empty nest type things, we forged a new tradition for ourselves.
John and Gina were originally going to have something at their place, but after all the fun we had the other day at the fair, we decided it would be more fun for all of us to do the fair, eat there, and enjoy the fireworks and KC & the Sunshine Band concert.
Even with satisfying any whim or craving for munchies . . .
Aiden was pouty/whiny most of the day . . .
I celebrated the freedom that Josephine and I have to do what we want without the massive responsibility of caring for, thinking about, and placing above oneself, any small children. It’s a freedom that responsible parents don’t have when their children are small or not yet on their own. Though I sometimes still yearn for biological children and feel like I’ve missed out on a big part of life, I silently enjoy our freedom to go places and do things without having to consider the needs of dependents. Josephine feels the same way; she told me the other day when we were at the fair.
I spent $5 to ride around on this elephant and was irritated that Josephine did not know how to work my camera well enough to get a shot of the elephant and me in the same frame . . .
But I’m happy with the way the elephant ride pictures turned out. And though it took awhile, I celebrated the freedom not to stay angry, but just let it go.
With “dueling (diving) pirates” everywhere . . .
We celebrated the freedom, joy, and innocence of youth, knowing that there are times it’s okay to spit out your food . . .
I got Third Place in the watermelon seed spitting contest; John tied for First Place with some other guy.
It was good, at least for a day, to be free of the burdens we carry around in our heads. They affect our vision and our ability to keep our balance in life.
When I enjoyed a fireworks show for the first time in almost 30 years, I knew I was free from the grip of the past.
And if I can be free and in good health when I’m “pipty-pibe” years old to keep doing the things I enjoy, that would be a big blessing. And that’s the way I would like it because I don’t want to be asking: “What the hell happened?”
Happy Independence Day. Don’t take freedom for granted.
Click here for the slideshow from the San Diego County Fair 2006.