Happy Day After 4th of July.

Two years ago, I spent the fourth of July having an enormous party.  I was allowed to invite my best friend, and her family.  All of my in-laws would come to Sioux Falls just for the one day celebration.  There were plenty of drinks, lots of fun in the pool, and a ton of great food.  We would spend all day enjoying the company of everyone invited, and then sit back and enjoy the grand finale of a home fireworks show-spectacular.  It was a good time.

Last year, my fourth of July was spent again with my very best friend.  This time, however, there were no in-laws.  There was no pool-party, or great food.  My husband had left me by then, and I wasn’t welcome at the Fourth party any more.  Instead, we went out to a house that I had never been to, on a lake that I had never heard of, owned by people that I had never met.  We went in two cars, with ten people, each planning on getting smashed beyond their own reckoning.  I have a very strong maternal instinct (which is usually referred to as being the party pooper) and I wasn’t willing to drink and drive, nor to get in the car with someone else that had been driving.  Thus, I spent my evening watching my friends having fun, being worried about what was going to happen, and wishing that I was back in Arkansas – even if it meant being by myself.

Yesterday, I spent the whole day with Brock and his family.  We drove up to the lake around 8am, and got there before anyone else had gotten up.  Wait!  That’s not right.  Baby Edward had gotten up, and Grandma (Jane) was rocking him out on the porch swing.  Brock and I brought all of the parts for our wonderful Egg-ham-and-cheese Croissants.  I cooked breakfast for everyone… as they slowly awoke and made their way to the kitchen.  We went down to the lake, and everyone had a blast floating around, swimming, taking pictures, and enjoying the beautiful weather.  When we got tired of the sun, the Allenders and I traveled back up to the house to get dinner prepared.  Hamburgers, hot dogs, corn on the cob, chips and salsa… it was a lovely summer’s feast.  When it started to get dark, we piled on to the boat, and navigated out of the cove to Queen’s Landing for the fireworks show.

As I sat at the front of the boat, with a champagne glass in hand, and Brock relaxing beside me, I realized very clearly that I was exactly where I wanted to be.  I’ve come a long way in the last few years, and it’s nice to finally feel like I’m in the right place.

In other news, the interview was this morning, and I think [Fingers Crossed] that I aced it!  She said I would hear from her tomorrow.  I don’t say “wish me luck”… instead I say Wish me eloquence and intelligence, because that is what will get me the job!