July fifth marks the saddest day of the year. It marks the year-long waiting period until the next Fourth of July Celebration. At least today we were blessed with the premiere of the new season of No Reservations.

Yesterday’s heat and humidity made the invitation to any backyard with a pool a welcome one. Luckily during the afternoon of the fourth, I found myself waist-deep in a pool with a beer in one hand, burgers on the grill, and surrounded by plenty of friends. The bare necessities of any Independence Day celebration, those of meat and beer, were met, and the company only bettered the day’s celebrations. Fireworks were launched from downtown Springfield over the Connecticut River. Patriotic tunes emanating from car radios echoed the sanctity and formality of such a day.

Even when the criteria for the holiday are met, we are reminded of how short we can fall of the supreme celebration of the holiday. Flash back a year ago: July 4th 2009. Ithaca, New York. Meat was cooked atop a shopping-cart-turned-grill. A bonfire was fueled by a couch and a half-gallon of gasoline. Small glaciers were carved out to keep the beers in the cooler cold. Throughout the day, the flag never stopped waving, and the National Anthem cried out through speakers on repeat. A group of fifty college students had truly readhed the apex of patriotism. Considering the veneration and reverence showed to the United States at this time last year, this year was – although not so heartily celebrated – far from a disappointment.

This year, careful attention was paid to keep the flag off the ground; the pool was consistently skimmed of bugs, leaves and dignity; the fire roared (without furniture being burned), and we had coozies aplenty. Three cheers for U.S.A., and a prayer for next year’s festivities.

“It’s because of us that Jewish dermatologists have beautiful houses on the beach!” – drunken Irishman at a cookout