Happy 4th of July!

Happy July 4th!!

Hi there, it's Olivia,

As the holiday quickly approaches, I start thinking about my most memorable July 4ths.

I met my ex-husband on July 4th. My friends and I were walking towards a concert being held on the wharf in NYC. I had gotten a really bad haircut and was hiding under a baseball cap. As usual, with my tiny tank, I had to use the restroom. And that restroom happened to be in the bar where my ex-husband worked. He started asking my friends for info about me, as I searched for the bathroom. Then he started chatting me up. And the rest was history!

But my most memorable Independence Day was with my ex-father-in-law, Theo. My ex-husband and I had decided to spend the weekend at his home in Long Island, New York. As a bartender, Nick always worked on the holidays. I was hanging out at the house and Theo asked in his thick Long Island accent, “Wanta go on the boat? “Theo’s pride and joy was his 32-foot sailboat named Carpe Diem.

It wasn’t fancy, but it was beautifully constructed with rich wood tones and red accents. Sometimes Nick and I would just go out on the boat to sleep on it. The rocking lull of the waves, salty air, and skylight into the night sky was so intoxicating. On this night, Theo and I went out right at sunset.

Sunsets near New York City were always so spectacular, resulting from the pollution that helped to create the most beautiful array of deep pinks, reds, and oranges. That evening’s display was a combination of pink stripes mixed with the blue sky settling into a soft lavender as the day grew longer. Those stripes always reminded me of a boy’s rugby shirt. Perfectly arranged and moving with the wind.

I watched Theo quickly move back and forth, maneuvering the ropes of the sails to get us moving into the wind. His only request from me was to switch seats as the boom was flipped onto different sides. Theo had been an attractive man in his youth. He had been worn down from life and age but still managed to keep himself busy in his retirement. His back gave him trouble from time to time, not helped by a former injury and his increased waistline. But none of that seemed to keep him from being an accomplished sailor.

As the night grew darker, we saw a hint of red and white in the distance. Then more from another angle.

Red, white, and blue shapes in the sky, with glittery falling tails curving into the water. Pretty soon they were all around us. We could see every display bordering the Long Island Sound. Manhattan’s theatrical production, the local display from Queens, and Long Island’s celebratory light show, all as we sat there anchored in the sailboat, looking up with wonder and excitement. Like little kids, pointing out new entrants into the show. It was a truly magical moment that I will always treasure. And be grateful to Theo for sharing it with me.

Happy 4th!!

Until next time,

❤️ Olivia