The Aging Fourth of July

Let me tell you a quick story about summer.

In high school, summer was eternal. Summer was the reason for going to school. Oh sure, us teenagers were being forced to learn and do the K through 12 march, but for me and many of my friends, we went to school because it made summer just that much better. Summer was the anti-school, providing all the freedom and relaxation that we could handle.

For me The Fourth of July has always been the pinnacle of summer. Since I began driving as a sophomore in high school I have always made huge plans with my friends - dinner, dates, movies, and biking to name a few. This was our moment, our time to be young. I loved every minute spent with my friends and family, and as long as the weather cooperated, I had nothing to complain about. After high school things were a bit harder to hold together with my friends scattering in all directions for school or work.

In the last few years the Fourth has really taken a tumble for me. Work is year-round (unlike school) and exhausts me both physically and mentally. My friends are literally split in half, which means I have two groups of people wanting to make different plans every year. I have had trouble finding the motivation to enjoy friends, festivities, and fireworks over this particular holiday. The magic and instant joy of the holiday is gone, and with it, an important artifact of my youth.

This weekend, however, is looking like a rebirth of sorts. Rather than spend another Fourth trying to mash together plans with competing friends or complicate my weekend with work, I am looking forward to the perfect weekend. How does three and a half days off work, sunny 90-degree weather sound on top of having absolutely no plans whatsoever? This is one of those "relax-first, plan-later" weekends where I focus on improving and entertaining myself by whatever means necessary - otherwise known as a Reboot Weekend.

With such great weather coming up and no intention of even trying to make specific plans, I am going into this weekend with unlimited possibilities and a strong focus on myself - which for this adult, is more than I could ever ask for.

B3 out.