I wasn’t quite sure I would have anything Independence Day “esque” to capture for this week’s You Capture challenge of Independence Day or Food. I was pretty sure I was going to have to either skip it entirely or go with the other option of food. I did catch an awfully sweet photo of LittleBrother feeding his Yia Yia (Greek for grandmother) a strawberry. Or, you know a “taw-bee” as they are fondly referred to as of late. (Also, we’re not Greek. Don’t ask me.) Our 4th of July was spent at a family wedding on my parents’ Farm. I was less than pleased, knowing that BigBrother not only remembered fireworks but wanted to see them again.

And then, someone in the bride’s family broke out the big guns. While that goes against my 4th of July safety tips, I will let you know that they were far, far away from the people, fire extinguishers were present and, well, selfishly, we had a lovely fireworks display which pleased BigBrother to no end. Plus, no crowds or traffic to deal with!

See his excitement in his moves?

I think, perhaps, that was my favorite part of the display. Not that the fireworks weren’t lovely; they were. And I love fireworks. I do. But watching my oldest son dance around, laugh and play was a beautiful reminder of how I do love this country. Sure, some of his excitement was based on the fact that we let him stay up past bedtime. (“Mommy! The sun went down!” The awe in his voice was beautiful.) Sure, some of it was based on the fact that he had not one but two cupcakes at the reception. (Not really my choice here but he had the second one before I took notice.) And, no, he doesn’t really understand how lucky he is to live in this country just yet. All he knows is that he got cupcakes, got to stay up until after the sun went down and then there were fireworks! Glorious! Fireworks!

And that, of course, is enough when you’re three and a half. He’s dancing in my parents’ backyard, unaware and unafraid of anything else. He’s getting to live a happy life, live a childhood as childhood was meant to be lived. He doesn’t quite understand what the Army is or why his Daddy served in it for eight years. He doesn’t quite understand the concept of independence other than that his Mommy says, “You sure are a stubborn, independent little dude at times.” He doesn’t yet know that there are children in other countries who aren’t allowed to attend a church or place of worship on Sunday mornings. In fact, knowing the latter would make him sad. Right now, he has all the glory of independence without any of the worry.

I wish we all had that…

…but we don’t. We know the good and the bad that accompany living in our country. We worry. We fret. We argue amongst ourselves. We point fingers. And really, that’s part of the glory. We’re free to do so. And while I don’t have the same peaceful view as a three and a half year old, I’m thrilled to live in this country.

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(A note: LittleBrother had already given up and was deeply asleep by this point. Someday he’ll see fireworks!)

The 4th of July is upon us! My American readers are likely heading to picnics, parties and fireworks displays at one point or another this weekend. While it’s easy to get caught up in the sun and the fun and the general celebration, take a few moments now to go over some safety tips for your weekend.

1. Be safe with fireworks and obey your local laws. What’s that mean? Know what is and is not legal in your area. If it’s not legal, don’t use it. The list of tips at FireworksSafety.com is really handy to keep in mind.

• Use fireworks outdoors only. (This should be obvious.)
• Obey local laws. If fireworks are not legal where you live, do not use them.
• Always have water handy. (A hose or bucket).
• Only use fireworks as intended. Don’t try to alter them or combine them.
• Never relight a “dud” firework. Wait 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water.
• Use common sense. Spectators should keep a safe distance from the shooter and the shooter should wear safety glasses.
• Alcohol and fireworks do not mix. Have a “designated shooter.”
• Only persons over the age of 12 should be allowed to handle sparklers of any type.
• Do not ever use homemade fireworks of illegal explosives: They can kill you! Report illegal explosives to the fire or police department in your community.

If you are experiencing a drought in your area, avoid shooting off fireworks above your house or the homes of others. A stray spark or a bottle rocket gone off course could set a rooftop on fire. A few pretty colors and a big boom aren’t worth losing your home or injuring those that you love.

2. If you’re having a picnic, make sure that your hot foods are grilled thoroughly and that your cold foods (especially ones that contain mayonnaise) are kept cold enough. In fact, according to What’s Cooking America, there’s a “two hour rule.”

Two Hour Rule. Don’t leave perishable food un-refrigerated for more than two hours. Put perishable foods back in the cooler or refrigerator as soon as you finish eating. Don’t leave them out while you go for a swim or a hike, and don’t leave them out all afternoon to nibble on.

If you feel like something is if-y (like if the sun moved the shade off of a table, thus “baking” some potato salad), it is always better to toss it and be safe than figure it is safe and make everyone at the party sick. If in doubt, pitch it!

3. Don’t forget the sunscreen. While it’s been cold here in the Midwest this week, it’s supposed to be sunny and in the 80’s on Saturday. That said, even on cloudy days, 80% of the sun’s ultraviolet rays can pass through the clouds. (Trust me! I’ve been burnt on cloudy days.) Put your safe sunscreen on 15-30 minutes before heading outside and reapply every two hours or again after toweling off after a swim. (Don’t forget lips and the tops of feet!)

4. Don’t drink and drive! Obviously you should never be drinking and driving. However, just in case you think that you’re safe this weekend, you’re not. A holiday doesn’t magically exempt everyone from the rules of the road. Here in Ohio, a crackdown is planned on impaired drivers (through Monday). Fifteen people died in car accidents in Ohio during the 4th of July celebrations in 2008. “Almost half” of those were alcohol related. If you think you’re exempt because drunk driving accidents only happen to bad people and you, of course, fall under the heading of a “good person,” think again. Stop in and read Joy DeVere’s post at BlogHer which talks about how she lost her husband to a drunk driving accident and then was hit by a drunk driver herself. In short, save yourself and others: designate a driver.

From our family to yours, have a safe and Happy 4th of July! (I’m sure we’ll toss up a family picture from my Uncle’s wedding at some point in time over the weekend. I can’t guarantee we’ll be smiling. But we’ll be safe!)