For my first real holiday back in the states, I had a bit of a decision to make. I knew I’d have to be in NYC for the 4th of July, but what to do??? Unlike when my friends and I were younger — and planned out the holiday weeks in advance — this year, come the last week of June, there were still no concrete plans.
Eventually a rooftop party surfaced. Could have been fun. Sure. But in my head, I couldn’t get over the question of why having a party WAY out in Brooklyn made sense…you could do that ANY day of the year. Fireworks only come once.
SO…a smallish group of 13 of us (mostly Peace Corps and grad school friends of another friend) gathered for a picnic at a park and set up shop for a great view of the pyrotechnics to come. Although we had a little rain come down right before the show, it was still a fabulous time watching the bursts of light popping behind the Brooklyn Bridge (the first time I’d seen it!), which had a couple of American flags waving from the top.
Definitely a great way to spend my first holiday back home (And WAY better than the 4th of July last year). It’s good to be back, America…
