I don’t have anything inspiring to say. If that’s what you’re looking for, PBW and Tambo have that.

I savor my July 4th holidays. In recent years, the military has begun offering family days in conjunction with major holidays, and I revel in the four-day weekend that results. I’ve been largely lazy this weekend, but I’ve accomplished things as well. Thanks to a co-worker friend inviting me, I had a lovely evening last night at the local minor league ballpark, chatting, eating a veggie burger and fries, watching the local team close out its series against neighboring Mississippi, and enjoying fireworks after the game.

But even as recent basic training graduates don’t quite see the 4th of July weekend the same as they did before the basic training experience, the fact that deployed military members on the “pointy end of the spear” don’t get the holiday off is never far from my mind. (Been there, done that for Christmas 2000 and New Year’s 2001 and Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day 2004 — when you’re out there, holidays aren’t so noticeable, and you don’t get four-day weekends with family time.) The luxury of sleeping in or watching the US Women’s Open on TV or taking in a ballgame is something I think about and treasure. And I’m grateful for the people who sacrifice their time, their health, their family interaction, and sometimes their lives so I can take this luxury for granted. And I pray each and every one of them comes home healthy and whole so they, too, can enjoy it again.