July Fourth is when America acts like America
So these un-United States celebrate a birthday today.
What timing. They’ve closed the honkytonks and the beaches. The lifeguards are all sick, and I hear two clerks at our local 7-Eleven have also come down with COVID.
A couple weeks ago they robbed the place. Now it’s a haz-mat site.
Apparently this is the July Fourth when America threw away the key. The ballyards are all off-limits, the movie theaters are all locked.
Party on!
I miss all the little things of early July – jellyfish stings, hangovers, hot tubs. I miss tubas waddling down parade routes like baby elephants.
I miss damp towels sleeping in the sun.
I miss the creak of theater seats and the sounds of Coke straws tromboning against plastic lids … of kids unable to sit still once the movie starts.
I miss love-crazed couples kissing in public, like they’re sharing lunch. Like two condors splitting a pizza.
I miss the pre-concert hum of the Hollywood Bowl, of a wine glass breaking, of licks of laughter, of melodies and key changes and oboes, piccolos … especially French horns.
If God sang, it would sound like French horns.
All is not lost. July Fourth seems our laziest holiday anyway. To be honest, I always dreaded the parking.
July Fourth can still be a day of hammocks and drinks with mint in them, barbecue sauce in your cuticles, a kernel of sweet corn in your front teeth.
Smile!
When I worked in New Orleans, we once did a feature where the reporter asked folks on the street what July Fourth actually celebrated.
Hot dogs!
Beer!
The beach!
One sweaty lad said dirt-biking. Another said sleeping off a 12-pack.
And they were all correct. July Fourth is when America acts like America.
I was thinking the other morning how different things might have been if King George had given the Colonies a rep in Parliament? Or spent time in New England, pacifying the revolutionaries, hearing their demands, maybe gone on “Good Morning Boston!” to tell a few funny stories.
After all, better communication is the first step toward solving standoffs. Obviously, King George didn’t handle the media very well.
This is July Fourth, a reminder of how wars once brought us together, instead of dividing us, as they do today.
What changed? Snippy, digital modes of discourse for one thing. Plus political agendas that are either too far one way or too far the other.
Remember when there was a middle?
I’ve always had gaps in my understanding of the world. I could never really tell Andy Warhol from Debbie Harry, or Cameron Diaz from Owen Wilson.
Look, what do I know? It’s early July and I’m just trying to keep the front yard a little moist in the mornings, before everything crusts over. In July, it seems all I can grow are sprinkler heads and thistles.
Besides, I’ve always had gaps in my understanding of the world. I could never really tell Andy Warhol from Debbie Harry, or Cameron Diaz from Owen Wilson.
Most days, I can’t tell a sno-cone from a potato.
But I do sense Americans are all a little ground down right now, a little tired, and shredded and losing our most-prized virtue: Hope.
The French have Champagne and c’est la vie. We have hope.
Look, we’re never at our best when we are exhausted. But out of small defeats come courage and resolve. Maybe even unity, though we’re not seeing much of that lately. Nor courage. Nor resolve.
There are some days I’d rather get rabies than read another troubling front page, or climb aboard social media, where so many of us live and seethe.
These days it seems the more we talk, the more we fight.
As seen on TV, we are a nation of pinwheeling eyes and bared teeth. Online, there is a new genre of video: gross misbehavior.
Everything is debated. If I tweeted that the sky looked especially blue, 400 morons would argue that it’s actually a little pink, then question my heritage, my eyesight, my sanity, or insist I hate all skies.
They’ve closed the honkytonks and the beaches. The lifeguards are all sick. Party on, America! #ChrisErskineLA #Julyfourth #COVID
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I think that too often lately, we’re taking our unhappiness out on others. Disrespect solves nothing. It’s why the shortstop punches the second baseman, why schnauzers snap at collies.
Yet, has America ever been any different?
Since 1776, we have been a spirited and bare-knuckled nation. We move too quickly, are governed by base impulse and the needs of the moment. By turns, we are either too provincial or too worldly.
Wow, what a place…what a splendid, cantankerous experiment. What an outlandish ideal in desperate need of a little hug.
Happy birthday, America.
Light a candle. Kiss a Karen. Take a breath.
The cake is in the oven.
Have a safe and festive weekend. Please look for my posts on Wednesdays and Saturdays. And if you’re looking for a summer read, check out my collection of past columns: “Daditude.”
Thank you Chris… Happy 4th to you, Smartacus, your girls, the Wolf… I’ll raise a G&T in your honor… And several other honors to be determined later. Don’t blow off a finger cutting limes
Happy Fourth, Chris! Have blueberry pie, cherry pie and vanilla ice cream on both–red, white and blue, here’s that hug for you.
Happy 4th! I hung my flag, then read your column. How can it not be a great day?
Oh Magoo, you’ve done it again.
Having re-watched Hamilton, If today’s Tweeters lived then, they would all be dead having to duel each other on a regular basis.
Happy 4th of July Chris! Yes, despite all the noise and craziness going on, I will celebrate and will always be grateful for the freedom we have in this country. You give us hope😊
Beautiful, Chris. You captured the spirit of the times and who We The People really are and hope to be. THIS is the hug I needed. Now I can enjoy Independence Day 2020 just as it is and isn’t. Thank you. You are a national treasure yourself!
Remember when you didn’t know if your friends were republican or Democrats? I miss those days. Or when The song Que Serra Serra felt good to sing. But today I still try and live like that ant moving a rubber tree plant whatever that is…..here’s to high hopes !
Here, here!! Thank you Chris, I needed this. Safe holiday to you and the family.
As always, Chris, you shine the light on hope. I was beginning to think it had burned out. Happy 4th
“damp towels sleeping in the sun”…”days I’d rather get rabies than read another troubling front page”. You’re writing captures it all. Thanks Chris!
Thank you for a beautiful, hope-filled tribute to our imperfect country. And as a “non-Karen” Karen, I hope you get lots of kisses, too!
Happy 4th Mr Erskine***** America is in need of something…..a goal line stand…a walk off homer…. and hope for sure
Feel a whole lot better..ah, The Byrds..about today, thanks to you.
Dan Wickerd
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 Happy 4th Chris!
Well. Said. Thank you, and have a glorious weekend – cheers!
Have a great, safe 4th. But beware of the condors fighting over the pizza. Where did you get that image from? Maybe it should have been bald eagles in honor of the holiday?
Hear, hear. Well said! I raise my glass and a sparkler as I read this. Happy 4th to you!
“Light a candle. Kiss a Karen. Take a breath.” (a mixed bag, for sure, just like today is turning out to be!) Fingers crossed, next Fourth of July will find us all in a far better place. Meanwhile, the cake is out of the oven, I am googling Sangria recipes and finding joy where I can… thanks as always, for providing some! Happy Fourth to you and yours….
Happy Fourth my Friend. Today on Facebook I put up 3 photos of our house. The first had the flag proudly flying from the front porch fixture, the second had a “Defend Don’t Defund the Culver City Police sign on our front lawn (house in b.g.) the third had a large BLM sign on the other side of front lawn (house in bg) and the caption? “These are not mutually exclusive concepts, Happy Fourth to Everyone” (it’s the least I could do…) XO
Thank you, Chris E.! Great insights into this crazy Covid 4th of July! This was super!👍🇺🇸🗽⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️I miss “damp towels sleeping in the sun” too❗️💕
Love the new banner. Let’s hear it for hope making a comeback. Happy Fourth of July!
👍🏻Smartacus.