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Getting Psyched for Fourth of July In Skippack
We’re a free nation, baby: The Skippack Blogger and his wife enjoying the Fourth of July parade in Skippack.
Skippack’s Fourth of July parade begins at 11:00 a.m. and travels down Skippack Pike (Route 73), thru the heart of Skippack Village. BBQ at Parc Bistro at 3 p.m., and fireworks st dusk in the village. In 2013, the fourth of July falls on a Thursday.
I love Fourth of July in Skippack.
I love watching people line up along the parade route, the anticipation of fun in a small town, the beautifully restored antique cars as they roll down Skippack Pike, the optimistic music of marching bands, floats sponsored by local shops and organizations, mummers in their peacock colors, fire engines blasting their sirens and firefighters spraying the crowd with cooling water, the excitement and laughter of children.
I love fireworks at dusk in Palmer Park.
I love it all.
The Meaning of the Day
Rare and precious is the day when we stop our busy, harried routines to celebrate something so abstract and challenging as freedom. Rare is the moment when we stop to celebrate the power of words. But it is words, an idea, a declaration, a declaration of independence that we are celebrating:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
During the American War of Independence, soldiers in Continental Army stopped in Skippack in their battle over these words. But more than victory in a war against the British long ago, I celebrate their meaning. Endowed by their Creator: My right to seek happiness was given to me by the Creator of the universe and not by any man. Therefore, no one can take it away. And that self-evident truth defines this great nation and crosses its borders and goes out to all nations of the world, whether they choose to recognize it or not.
Fireworks in Palmer Park. Photo by Brad DeForest, web designer and friend of the Skippack Blogger.
And it is not only a patriotic truth, it is a truth within my soul. No matter how disappointing the outcome of events, how frustrating my workday, how bitter the losses in my personal life — I have the right to wake up the next morning, and seek happiness. I have the right to define what happiness means to me, Michael Shaw, the Skippack Blogger, just as you, dear reader, have the right to define happiness for yourself.
How wonderful to celebrate the right to pursue happiness in the place where I find happiness each day.
Skippack, Pennsylvania, the United States of America.
Get me to the parade on time.
Michael
What a meaningful outlook in life. When to some July 4th is all about the BBQ, beer and fireworks, to you it’s about meaning and happiness. Even more important is that you make it clear that theses achievements don’t come on their own. We have to work on ourselves to come to such conclusions. No one hands you happiness. No money can buy it. Just one’s attidute can achieve it.
Happy 4th.
I really appreciated what you wrote about the meaning of our celebration today: “Rare and precious is the day when we stop our busy, harried routines to celebrate something so abstract and challenging as freedom…” Freedom does, in every way, challenge our very soul. It’s a precious gift from God.
You both look terrific .I loved the article.It really describes July 4th,as an all american holiday, and Skippack is the perfect small town. You description of “freedom” is beautiful. I loved it. Love, Mom