I celebrated this national holiday by paying a highly personalized tribute to the word "Independence." There come times in one's life when you just know that it's time to do things a little differently and this past week or so has been my time to explore new emotional and physical boundaries. In other words, I'm trying to climb higher, swing faster, make bigger decisions, assert more opinions and just DO more all on my own. It's fun and exciting and a really really REALLY big bummer when I don't quite make it or get my way. Ex: We have been waiting all stinking season for these blueberry bushes to fruit. Now, here they are in all of their juicy blue glory and mom and dad won't let me get up at 7 am, put my boots on and run out to raid all the bushes. They are ridiculously picky about the subtle shade differences between dark purple and bright blue and say things like, "They are not all quite ready yet, Nona." I disagree. I communicate my dissent by shrieking NOOOOOOOOOOOOs and IIIIIIIII WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANT IT while trying hard to conjure real tears. (Mom suspects that the neighbors are particularly fond of my Sunday morning 7 am, er, explosions). On a final note of independent ranting: I do not like fireworks. (Which sounds more like "NOOOOOOOOOOOO! I DON'T WAAAAAAAAAAANT IT!")

I do, however, like going to the theatre to see a live performance of Green Eggs and Ham, helping mom repot plants and eating the berries that mom and dad have deemed "ready-to-be-picked." I also like tree climbing-- pictures forthcoming.