An African 4th of July

I don’t remember
every day of my life. But the memorable ones, the birthdays and holidays, the
camps and vacations, the disappointments and joys–those stick with you.

I remember the day
I failed my driving test. I remember the days my grandparents died. I remember
my middle school graduation and my first day of college. I remember nearly
every birthday, from celebrating at home with friends and family to celebrating
at Waikiki Beach or church camp. What I am remembering today is the 4^th
of July.

I remember
watching fireworks in the park or from the top of Aunt Jan’s hill.

I remember, a few
days before the 4^th, riding the Ferris wheel with Noah, Eva and
Danny, shouting â€ŔI love you, America, while Lee Greenwood belted God Bless the
USA in the background at the county
fair.

I remember riding
in the 4^th of July parade the day before we left for Europe in 2000,
and making Mom take me to Auntie Donna’s house so we could watch the fireworks
from her backyard (even though we had to be at the airport at 8am).

I remember the
year we were in Kauai with Eva and Aunt Glenna and family and shot fireworks
off on the beach.

I remember the
year we were in Boston and Dad refused to go to the Boston Pops so we just
watched it all on TV.

I remember the
year I was in Poland, feeling very homesick with makeshift smores and being
comforted by my sisters, and then seeing fireworks shoot off from the
school-then it felt like the 4^th of July.

I remember working
at Starbucks all day before getting to celebrate in the park.

I remember working
the county fair TWICE in very hot weather, and then enjoying the crisp fog roll
in from San Francisco as we watched the fireworks.

I remember spending
the 4^th in Tahoe with my camp family, gazing up at the stars and
fireworks and enjoying the feeling of being safe and loved.

And now I will remember
a 4^th of July in Tanzania-spending the whole day in church, and
coming home to celebrate with most of our squad. There was no barbecue, no Coke
or rootbeers, no corn on the cob or potato salad, but there was love.