Since Ryan and I have been a couple our families have come together for a party known as “The 4th on the 3rd”. The party itself has been a long withstanding reoccurrence in the Ottem household. Four years ago was the 1st time I was privy to the Ottem way. More importantly, it was the 1st time our families met each other and began a tradition of celebrating together.
Fourth of July has been one of my top favorite holidays as far back as I can remember. As a kid it was the one day out of the year that my Dad’s entire family was all in the same place at the same time. Hot summer days in Colusa spent running around the pool, grubbing down bbq, watching the grown ups play horseshoe and seeing my extended branch of cousins was the epitome of independence to the child version of myself. The true meaning of the day was slightly misunderstood. I always knew it was a day to express patriotism but the meaning of patriotism was too much for a little girl who just wanted to put on her inner tube attached swimsuit and eat popsicles to grasp. It wouldn’t be until much later in life that I would begin to really understand what the day represents.
In general, my intent behind my LA-normal writings is to be a moment of light heartedness in someones day. There is so much heart ache, disappointment in humanity and robbed freedom in the world, if I can be the breath of fresh air and a brake from the turmoil then I feel that my goal in all of this has been reached. However, now that I am a fully aware adult, this goal becomes ever so challenging when discussing a topic highly fueled with emotion. I know how fortunate I am to be an American. I know how lucky we are to freely come together and celebrate our independence with family and friends, with little to no real fear of having it taken away. May we all remember what others have sacrificed to bring us this day. Like most, our freedom has been supplied by the fight of our ancestors. In our blended family alone we have the efforts of three grandfathers to thank and what better way to thank them than by consuming large amounts of margaritas and mastering the works of Monkey’s glow in the dark worley-gig?
Personally, now more than ever, I can’t help but be flooded with emotion when I sit back and look at what the meaning of family and freedom has developed into. I look at the way that our niece interacts with my parents, no blood line needed, the love is there. I watch the way that our moms hang out in the kitchen, a pattern that seems to be just as traditional as fireworks themselves. I smile at the mischief my husband and our fathers inevitably find themselves in when the three of them are together. I see all of this and I say thank you. Thank you to those who have fought in the past, those fighting today and those that will undoubtly be fighting in the future. Our freedom will never be free and it is our responsibility to never forget that.
From our first conjoined party to our present, Happy Independence America, every day of the year.
