4th of July: Family, Fireworks, and Full Hearts

On my dad’s side, everyone takes turns hosting the holidays.

My Titi Belen hosts Thanksgiving. My Tio Carlos hosts Christmas Eve. My Uncle Spooner hosts the 4th of July. I started hosting my cousin’s Christmas photoshoot and hanging out before all the Christmas activities. So yes, in my family, holidays are not just dates on the calendar. They are full blown family events.

Back to the 4th of July.

In Casa Rivera, my Uncle Spooner buys fireworks, my Titi and Tio get the food ready for the afternoon and dinner, and everyone brings their own kind of energy. There are drinks, food, music, kids running around, and family everywhere.

The kids play in the pool. The adults talk, laugh, joke, and catch up. Then once it gets dark, everyone gets ready for the fireworks.

My Uncle Spooner does not play when it comes to fireworks either. We have ground fireworks and aerial fireworks. Everyone gathers outside, watching in awe, recording videos, taking pictures, and holding onto the people they love.

Some family members are talking loud, some are laughing, and my Uncle Spooner is usually somewhere shouting about the fireworks like he is the official mayor of the 4th of July. And of course, Spanish music is playing in the background because what is a family function without music?

Honestly, my Uncle Spooner made me fall in love with this holiday.

He brought the family in during the summer. He gave us a reason to gather, eat, laugh, and make memories. Everyone has a good time with smiles, food grilling, and love all around.

There is always something happening in my family. A graduation announcement, a pregnancy announcement, a birthday, or just another reason to celebrate life together.

Last year, I brought my forever friend with me. She had fun, and she is coming again this year. That meant a lot to me because I do not bring just anyone around my family. I do not want temporary people in my life, especially around the people who mean the most to me.

The day I bring a man to a family function, please know it is serious. My family means a lot to me. I am very family oriented, and my family is full of roasts, jokes, stories, chaos, and love. We talk about anything and everything.

So happy 250th birthday, America. I hope we remember that we are still a melting pot, and that we all deserve to get along, live comfortably, and lead with love.

And for me, the 4th of July will always be about more than fireworks. It is about family, memories, music, food, and those little moments that remind me how lucky I am to be surrounded by love.