Freedom. Celebrated.

I haven't seen actual fireworks since before Owen was born.

I miss the big loud pretty lights in the sky.

Seven years ago, exactly one week before he'd gain his freedom from the hospital, we were still getting used to looking at Owen's tube-free face.

Since nursing homes are a 24/7/365 business, holidays off are not freely given.

I am bound to my 3-11 shift this 4th of July.

Fridays however, I'm always free. So this past Friday, after Al spent two hours trapped in holiday traffic, he hopped right into my car so we could have a nice family dinner at his favorite pizza place.

As we got off the exit I wondered aloud;

"What are we thinking?   We're never going to get a parking spot on the waterfront two days before the 4th. We'll be stuck in the car looking for a space forever."

We scored a spot a two minute walk from the restaurant.

As we approached the most popular Italian joint on the waterfront, on a perfect Friday evening kicking off a holiday weekend,  we both worried that there would be a wait.

We scored the last table.  Within minutes of being seated, there was a line out the door.

The four of us devoured two large pizzas.  The newly g-tube free Owen ate at least 4 slices.

I was thankful my belly wasn't being held hostage by the waistband of pants; my flowy dress allowed for much needed gut expansion.

Al thought we could give a walk on the jetty a try.

The jetty is about a half mile long, the rocks providing just enough challenge for the kids to feel like they were on a real adventure. 

Owen was nervous at first, grasping my hand tightly, but became more sure footed with each step.

Bea commented frequently on the writing on the rocks.  Many have used their freedom of expression to decorate the rocks with the f-bomb, c-bomb, n-bomb, d-bomb...

Bea thought maybe we could come back another day and wash the rocks; free them of their bad words.

Some graffiti should get to stay.

Bea with her hero.

And me with mine.

My thoughts were free to travel a great distance to far away  friends.

Gotta locate my copy of Jonathan Livingston Seagull.

A group of lovely latinas joined us on the rocks.  One of them stumbled and dropped her expensive looking camera. It landed between the rocks, way down near the water.

I held my breath and bit my knuckle and wished her Buena Suerte as she lay down and stretched and reached down the rocks to free her camera.  She got it.  And it still worked.

And we made it all the way to the end.

And Owen exclaimed;

"We Won!!!"

He really did.

And we made our way back.

And there were pretty lights in the sky.