I am continuously amazed at a bunch of people who specifically go out of their way to be miserable at a happy time.
My 4th was far from grandiose: I spent the late morning/early afternoon mowing the grass while it was hotter than the hinges of the front door of Hell, and then I relaxed. Neighbors behind me had been blaring music off of their back porch, and came around a little later to apologize because they didn't realize some of the speakers had been pointing out into the neighborhood. I jokingly said that I almost couldn't hear them over the lawn mower, we had a good laugh, and they invited me over for a beer and a burger if I was interested. I wound up not going, but I certainly appreciated the invitation.
Nashville had one of, if not the largest fireworks celebrations in the nation. I decided that after a day spent out in the heat mowing grass, I just wasn't interested in going downtown and fighting a crowd of a quarter million people while it was still hot as a tire fire outside, so I stayed home and watched it on TV instead. I was rather amazed that, from 30-odd blocks away, the booms of the fireworks still shook the windows of the house. Other than having the actual symphony there playing the actual songs timed to the fireworks (and yes, they do things like time the 1812 Overture and Anchors Away to the actual fireworks each year), it was thoroughly enjoyable to watch and enjoy.
Even in this deep blue dot in a sea of dark red, literally a million people, all told, when one factors in all of the "satellite" fireworks shows, managed to have a great time and enjoy each others' company. Save but for a tiny handful of hate-filled douchebags like DUmmies, who doubtlessly sat at home grousing about those fundies out there enjoying themselves all day.
