Happy July 4 to all. Thank you, veterans.

Recipe for a perfect Independence Day

• 1 patriotic couple – a retired 3-star general who worked in the Reagan White House after 2 rigorous tours in Vietnam and his wife, who raised the kids and kept everything together while he was away

• Their 4 children and SOs

• 8 grandchildren

• Multiple cousins and friends, all ages

• 1 oceanfront home on a sunny day in southern CA

• 3 kayaks and a Frisbee

• 15+ colorful beach towels and sunscreen

• Hamburgers, hot dogs, salads, plenty of beer, wine, water, and soft drinks

 And the pièce de résistance – a round robin reading of the Declaration of Independence, late afternoon, with everyone participating, young readers and the rest of us, all sandy and flush from our day on the beach, joined in appreciation for the United States of America, its blessings and our freedoms.

We enjoyed that special day 12 times when we lived in San Diego. Though I know we always watched the fireworks when it got dark, I don’t remember those.

 I will never forget listening to the Declaration of Independence, the words that sounded like poetry and faith, coming from the mouths of reverent readers who had given years of their lives and lost friends in war zones, and from the kids too young to appreciate the meaning of what they were saying.

 I texted our friends (now 90, who read the document surrounded by friends and family as usual) to thank them for those treasured memories. Wish we could have been with them today. Even more, I wish the country was looking forward together with a shared vision for our future, and I wish that the whole world was safer. But I’ll think about that again tomorrow. Today, I just want to thank everyone in the military who does or did serve our country, and to those who kept their families together at home while they worked.

Now, I’m off to re-read that founding document.