For That Something Inside Us That Won't Let Us Be

 'Cause there's something inside us

That won't let us be. 

In stalks through our days

'Til it's too dark to see. 

And it's damn near as deadly

As Texans on ice.

Lord, don't they beat all

Y'all have a nice holiday. 

"Holiday"

-James McMurtry

The Independence Day Weekend is upon us.  Perhaps one of the things that makes summer summer is that it has long holiday weekends that serve as its navigational beacons.  Memorial Day Weekend harkens its arrival.  Labor Day Weekend signals its departure.  Independence Day Weekend represents its spiritual halfway point.  

Far more summer days lie between this weekend and Labor Day than did between Memorial Day and this weekend.  Nevertheless, this is the summer weekend that always serves to remind me just how quickly these beautiful summer days pass and how important it is to embrace them and to enjoy them.  If you live - as do I - in a region that experiences all four seasons, then summer serves as the season in which you build up your reservoir of Vitamin D, upon which you shall rely to deal with the inevitable days of autumn and winter.

However, wherever, and with whomever you spend this Independence Day Weekend - and the summer days and nights that await you on its other side - embrace it and enjoy it.  If you are traveling this weekend, be patient, be smart, and be safe.  

Be careful out there.

-AK