From the phone calls, emails, and “how do you do’s” I take it that the majority of my ‘readers’ had a good, somewhat relaxing, and scrumptious 4th! Here’s to the red, white, and blue. (end required patriotic feelings here). Nah – I’m not going to go into a political thing here – had enough of that at the grown up table next to 3 fifty-something year old men the other day. Luckily we all were the basic idealist liberals/libertarians or whatever so there weren’t any fights going on – but we were lucky. Even I know that the cardinal sin to any party conversation is bringing up politics or religion.

I had a great 4th of July, though. I wasn’t expecting it to be good (as anyone who read my post the other day can suspect…) but I was pleasantly surprised and eternally grateful. I had a GLORIOUS time in the sun – and it was bright – and it was warm – but thank god not half as bad as it was inland. It was a nice bright get out your sunscreen before you burn 73 degrees by the beach and a hell on earth 108 back at home. Ridiculous. Being that we haven’t had rain here since Noah built the ark – there were cops supposedly patroling the beach waiting to confiscate fireworks that could potentially burn several homes. The threat of a 1000.00 fine didn’t stop the locals from giving us about 3-4 different firework shows, depending on which direction you looked.

The house was pretty close to the beach, so from the patio we could see just fine. I had no desire to go back down to the beach. I had already spent 4 hours prior jumping around in the sand and waves with my cousins, and walking about 3 miles for my daily cardio so I didn’t feel bad for eating the potato salad that was calling my name back at the house. In addition to tanning and chewing large amounts of sand with my pretzels, I also was a guest judge of several castle building contests. I kept looking at my youngest cousin (who is 12) like, “what is wrong with you and your friends? Why don’t you build a castle like the other children?” but she was too busy trying to fill out her bikini top. She and her 2 buddies have officially entered that age – the age where they are no longer sweet and covered in babyfat – but little pre-teen-adonnas one and all. *sigh* I should have built a castle my own damn self… hmph! (or at least got someone to bury me in some sand so only my head and toes peeked out).

The beach was busy – but it wasn’t half as crowded as some of the other more populated (and quite frankly NASTIER) beaches. Thank goodness. But there was the sound of the waves – and almost like punctuation, the sound of children’s screams. I don’t know what it is about waves that make children (and some adults, even) scream – but they are successful in illiciting at least 50 screams per minute or so every time the huge waves came crashing on the shore.

I love watching people at the beach. I love watching girls walk from one end to the other in the skimpiest of bikinis and watch all the men sitting there with their wives, girlfriends, mothers, etc. Sunglasses shield your eyes, boys, but when your whole HEAD TURNS to watch a girl pass – you’re not really fooling anyone, ya know? I noticed something though on that beach. No matter how a person physically looked (because there were some women who were pretty damn brave to wear a bikini let me tell you) – if a woman carried herself with confidence and an almost superior type of attitude, all eyes (even women’s) were on her. If a girl walked by and was covering up her body (even if she had the fiercest body ever!) people acted embarrassed for her and didn’t even look twice at her with any sort of longing or whatever. It was interesting. I have no idea how I walk on the beach, by the way. The other day I walked with shorts on and a bikini top. I’m modest but I guess I like to give a little tease every now and again.

So after the beach we headed back to the house to eat – and like I hinted at earlier (is that alluded or ELUDED, I wonder?), I ended up at a table of 3 men who were about 50 or so. And I’m not complaining at all. Because I felt EXTREMELY comfortable. We talked about music, and lyrics, and Stevie N., and The Beatles – and a bit about politics, Woodstock, and MLK Jr, too. I just leaned my head against my hands and watched their expressions while they talked. I laughed alot – asked a few questions – and as the day started to cool off I just felt something deep inside of me. I was content. I had enough to eat but was not stuffed – I was warm – but not too hot. I was entertained, but not overly stimulated. I was just absolutely at that moment in time CONTENT. I wanted for absolutely nothing. I had everything that I needed and I think that has to be the first time I have ever ever felt that way. It was glorious.

The fireworks that nite were fantabulous – and long. Many families joined together and had a sort of firework you got served sort of thing going on. Everyone wanted to out do each other and I’m sure over 1000.00 dollars was spent on the chance to be crowned the Firework King of 2007. They weren’t afraid of a 1000.00 fine, that is for sure. Even when we packed up to leave at about 10:00PM – fireworks were still booming behind us – and they had started at 8:00PM. But I sat there in the front seat of the car on our way home and held onto the sun, the waves, the screams, the conversations, the music, the scenery and even the crackles of the fireworks I love the best. I remember how that felt that moment I was content. It’s like satisfied – only it lasts longer. It’s like the afterglow you feel after a big orgasm. It’s like looking at the best redesign for your site that your bff did for you and wondering if she just somehow tapped into your brain to bring everything you ever wanted to “paper”. It’s like finishing a workout – and for a moment enjoying the sweat collect in the small of your back and your heart beating wildly against your chest. It’s like coming home to several appointments, and well wishes and calls asking how your day was.

I’m so glad I went.