2020 Hindsight: A Different Fourth of July

Well, the 186th day of 2020 brought us another edition of Milestones Modified, not Missed.  7/4/2020 did not start with a parade of floats where candy is tossed to the kids lining the streets.  But it DID include a small bike parade and I handed out bags of candy to those who participated.  And it did not end with the National Anthem being sung at the stand in front of the School.  But I DID listen to Anna's singing from three years ago that was my FB memory.  And it did not include a BBQ at our house where people come from all over to eat and talk and laugh.  But Sarah DID make burgers and we had our own family-only BBQ on the back patio.  And it did not include the Welcome American Concert on the Parkway, but we watched the concert in an empty Met and listened to some amazing singing (and Jason Derulo too).  And, there was not a fireworks display over the Collingswood HS Field that we could watch from our porch, but there were tons of amateur fireworks to be seen from our front porch.  Yes, my 2020 Hindsight is that this was a Different Fourth of July.  But we still gave out candy, and saw a parade, and had burgers, and listened to music, and saw (some amateur) fireworks.  So, we had a as happy a Fourth as is allowed in pandemic times.  And we reflected on the holiday and what it means to us and what it doesn't mean to others in our country.  We are thankful for the liberty and freedoms that we experience and hope that there truly can be justice for all in this country.  And that this justice happens sooner rather than later.  Happy Fourth, All!  May Freedom Ring (FOR ALL!)