Being in France on holiday, we hope to see the fireworks tonight in a nearby harbor - with even more anticipation now I’ve read your article. Discovering your blog only a few months ago, was the perfect warming up to our French holiday. I now do not just step into the bakery to buy a bread, I go ‘bonjouring’ in the ‘boulangerie’. 😊Thank you!
I love the title. I hate the 4th. The “fireworks” sound more like bombs now. In Montana, the aftermath is tragic. Sheep break through fences. Horses run off. Deer leap in front of traffic. Facebook is full of folks who can’t find their dogs and cats. The trash left at our dumpsite is a week’s worth in one afternoon. I don’t get it.
Oh, the runaway horses and the terrified animals, I can picture all of it. A lot of collateral damage for an evening. All that panic and mess for one loud night. The aftermath is the part nobody puts on the postcard! Thank you Laura 💛
I disappeared to another part of the world after seeing it once. More than enough chauvinisme for a life time. And the way people behave. I was substantially ashamed. I love the laid back attitude of the French on most things.
I love hearing how the France celebrates. Bonfire night here in London is loud but unlike in the US, people also stop lighting off fireworks by a certain time. Love that you made red, white, and blue ice cream.
Oh, a hard stop time, imagine. That alone would fix half of it. Bonfire Night with actual limits sounds positively gentle by comparison. So glad you enjoyed the piece, and the patriotic ice cream 🍨😊
Your holiday to the coast looked lovely! Such sweet photos. I understand your comments about the 4th in the US. I’m older, so fighting crowds on the holiday is something I’ve been over for a long time. Ironically our now deceased Bulldog never seemed to care about fireworks but she was an interesting pup. Wonderful writing. I don’t always comment but I always enjoy reading.
What a life you have created. It’s quite hard to wrap my head around it actually. Such a contrast. Underneath it all feels like a different set of values. Something I crave these days.
We brace for the 4th, and New Years for the reasons you mentioned. Our dog has panic attacks for often 3 days straight and I struggle to soothe his soul, one who when we first adopted him would panic at the beep from the coffee maker.
The saddest thing is that it feels to me that the 4th has lost its meaning and is just an excuse for hoards of people to party with no connection to what the day represents…
The different-set-of-values thing is exactly what we were chasing, and it turns out you can just go looking for it. I hope you find your version. And your poor pup, three days is so much, I really feel for you both. Thank you, Debra.
"About as subtle as a bald eagle crashing through a Monster Energy ad" made me laugh out loud. There's something about the quiet pride here that recalibrates you. So glad this one got a bigger table this year, it deserves it :)
July 14 in France is fun! Villages have little fetes, the fireworks are fab (though over 2000 were cancelled this year due to the excessive heat) and the cheesy music which inspires folks to dance in the streets is just plain wonderful.
A fellow former Venice mama! And yes, the village fetes with the cheesy music and the street dancing are one of my favorite parts, too, sometimes even more than the fireworks. Sad about all the heat cancellations this year, but the villages still delivered 😊
Wonderful piece, illustrating all the important things in life. Venice Beach sounds vile, I have to say. Your new life sounds very enviable, though I realise it comes with some compromises. Your children look gorgeous - how do you manage it all? Though I also realise that great photography and social media, in this case Substack, have their part to play.
Ha, you're not wrong, the camera is very good at leaving out the tantrums and the plaster dust. "Manage" is generous, we mostly muddle through and I photograph the good ten minutes. Venice wasn't quite vile, but it definitely didn't suit us in the end and we had to make a change. Glad we did 😊
Thank you for your beautiful and thoughtful post and scrapbook of photos. The descriptions of Bastille Day provide so much information, and a yearning that Americans find a way to celebrate events with special reverence, without bombs bursting in air until dawn’s early light. Cheers to y’all. All y’all.
I agree... our Florida morning on the fifth was still stinking of sulfur and people with breathing issues got asthma attacks. The air was stiff and stinky, and not a breeze moving. Horrible.
Being in France on holiday, we hope to see the fireworks tonight in a nearby harbor - with even more anticipation now I’ve read your article. Discovering your blog only a few months ago, was the perfect warming up to our French holiday. I now do not just step into the bakery to buy a bread, I go ‘bonjouring’ in the ‘boulangerie’. 😊Thank you!
Ha, you've got the most important lesson down! Wishing you a gorgeous night at the harbor and a wonderful holiday. Were you able to see any fireworks?
I love the title. I hate the 4th. The “fireworks” sound more like bombs now. In Montana, the aftermath is tragic. Sheep break through fences. Horses run off. Deer leap in front of traffic. Facebook is full of folks who can’t find their dogs and cats. The trash left at our dumpsite is a week’s worth in one afternoon. I don’t get it.
Loved your writing… Thx.
Oh, the runaway horses and the terrified animals, I can picture all of it. A lot of collateral damage for an evening. All that panic and mess for one loud night. The aftermath is the part nobody puts on the postcard! Thank you Laura 💛
I disappeared to another part of the world after seeing it once. More than enough chauvinisme for a life time. And the way people behave. I was substantially ashamed. I love the laid back attitude of the French on most things.
That's a strong reaction and I don't blame you for it. The French version of pride is so much easier to be around. Thank you, Tineke 😌
I worked there, so I made that my holiday to visit my country of birth. Nordics are very private. Showing chauvinism is much more subdued.
I love hearing how the France celebrates. Bonfire night here in London is loud but unlike in the US, people also stop lighting off fireworks by a certain time. Love that you made red, white, and blue ice cream.
Oh, a hard stop time, imagine. That alone would fix half of it. Bonfire Night with actual limits sounds positively gentle by comparison. So glad you enjoyed the piece, and the patriotic ice cream 🍨😊
Your holiday to the coast looked lovely! Such sweet photos. I understand your comments about the 4th in the US. I’m older, so fighting crowds on the holiday is something I’ve been over for a long time. Ironically our now deceased Bulldog never seemed to care about fireworks but she was an interesting pup. Wonderful writing. I don’t always comment but I always enjoy reading.
Ha, an unbothered bulldog is a gift. And the crowds, yes, I was over those long before I left too! Thank you for the kind words, Kelly. 😊
Lovely photos of your family!
Thank you, Andrea!
What a life you have created. It’s quite hard to wrap my head around it actually. Such a contrast. Underneath it all feels like a different set of values. Something I crave these days.
We brace for the 4th, and New Years for the reasons you mentioned. Our dog has panic attacks for often 3 days straight and I struggle to soothe his soul, one who when we first adopted him would panic at the beep from the coffee maker.
The saddest thing is that it feels to me that the 4th has lost its meaning and is just an excuse for hoards of people to party with no connection to what the day represents…
The different-set-of-values thing is exactly what we were chasing, and it turns out you can just go looking for it. I hope you find your version. And your poor pup, three days is so much, I really feel for you both. Thank you, Debra.
"About as subtle as a bald eagle crashing through a Monster Energy ad" made me laugh out loud. There's something about the quiet pride here that recalibrates you. So glad this one got a bigger table this year, it deserves it :)
The Monster Energy eagle is unfortunately burned into my brain forever. Thank you for the kind words and for rooting for this one Olivia 😊
Oh do I hear you! Former Venice, CA mama here.
July 14 in France is fun! Villages have little fetes, the fireworks are fab (though over 2000 were cancelled this year due to the excessive heat) and the cheesy music which inspires folks to dance in the streets is just plain wonderful.
I agree wholeheartedly!
A fellow former Venice mama! And yes, the village fetes with the cheesy music and the street dancing are one of my favorite parts, too, sometimes even more than the fireworks. Sad about all the heat cancellations this year, but the villages still delivered 😊
Wonderful piece, illustrating all the important things in life. Venice Beach sounds vile, I have to say. Your new life sounds very enviable, though I realise it comes with some compromises. Your children look gorgeous - how do you manage it all? Though I also realise that great photography and social media, in this case Substack, have their part to play.
Ha, you're not wrong, the camera is very good at leaving out the tantrums and the plaster dust. "Manage" is generous, we mostly muddle through and I photograph the good ten minutes. Venice wasn't quite vile, but it definitely didn't suit us in the end and we had to make a change. Glad we did 😊
Thank you for your beautiful and thoughtful post and scrapbook of photos. The descriptions of Bastille Day provide so much information, and a yearning that Americans find a way to celebrate events with special reverence, without bombs bursting in air until dawn’s early light. Cheers to y’all. All y’all.
This is so kind, thank you Mark! There has to be a version of American celebration that doesn't rattle the windows till dawn. Here's hoping. 😌
Thanks! Enjoy the August break.
I agree... our Florida morning on the fifth was still stinking of sulfur and people with breathing issues got asthma attacks. The air was stiff and stinky, and not a breeze moving. Horrible.
Oh, the sulfur hangover in the air, I remember it well. A real health issue. So sorry for anyone caught breathing it!
Magical, thank you Kamille.
Thank you Vickie ☺️
Yes, yes, yes! Merci!
Ha, merci to you, Giannine!