Keeping Traditons Alive

Last Thursday was the 4th of July and I had to work.  While everybody was getting ready to go to a BBQ, to the beach or simply to somebody's house to hang and celebrate what should be one of USA's, if not the biggest, Holiday during the whole year I was at work.  Some of you might be thinking that the biggest is probably Christmas but if you are Jewish you don't participate in it so this one and maybe Thanksgiving are the only two that apply to the whole country.

Maybe I come from a country that over celebrates everything, that looks for any excuse to call it a "holiday" and have a day off (PR is the country with most "holidays" celebrated in a year's calendar since we celebrate our own plus USA's ones.  Funny how nobody complains about being a colony during those days).  I do believe that certain days should be off for everybody , have the commerce close and let everyone enjoy it.  Little by little we are losing this type of celebrations.  More and more companies want to open and sell during theses days.  Trust me Thanksgiving is next and instead of going home to season that turkey with mom you will be part of the capitalist mentality either by working or going to shop during it.  There will be a day that all the stores will be open and it would just become one more day.  Losing the beauty and excitement that encompasses these days.

I left work early, and like the past 5 years headed to my friend Johanna's rooftop.  It is never the fanciest of parties and it never is because it is not about that.  It is about being together and celebrate freedom, the fact that we live in an amazing city, that we can be who we are without feeling ashamed or embarrassed, and that we have great people to share it with.  Thats what it was, and is, about.

While the fireworks bursted in the air and an old man sang "American Pie, I felt great happiness that we make it a point to conserve this tradition.