This year’s 4th of July celebration with friends was a rather subdued affair. It was also the goodbye part for our good friend Julie who was moving back to the States with her kids. She has moved away once before, but that was different. It was just to England, and she was able to come back and visit quite often. This is a permanent move and we will only be able to see her for a day here and there when we go back to Utah, which isn’t all that often.
Plus, I will be honest, I wasn’t as attached to her back then. I was busy with small children and didn’t have a lot of time to hang with friends, aside from book club and church activities. But now she has become the anchor of our social group. We usually got together because Julie organized it. We made quilts for people because Julie thought it was a good idea. We learned how to cook fancy food together because Julie wanted to eat it. We read two books a month for book club because Julie never said no to any book. We even ran a half marathon together because Julie thought it would be fun. And she guided us in her caring, funny, determined way and we loved it. Now we are lost at sea with no anchor, drifting and trying to find a new captain to take charge. But no one will ever be able to replace her. She is a true force of nature, in the most positive sense. And I am already jealous of all those lucky ladies whose lives she will enter and make better forever.
So taking all that into account, it was hard to feel festive and party in our usual way this year. Typically, though, Julie organized fun games for the kids to keep them occupied and make it fun, no matter what.
Plus, for my kids at least, there was her dog to cuddle and love on.
And a trampoline to jump on.
Julie was busy on the grill cooking up lots of sausages, and every one brought lots of yummy sides to share.
The adults mostly sat around chatting, as usual, and the kids ran around completely unsupervised. Just what should happen at a large gathering like this.
I know, I know. I needed a pop of red, but I just didn’t have anything appropriate. Maybe next year.
All that running around made the kids rather hungry and they seemed to inhale just about everything we set out.
And in keeping with tradition, I brought my usual flag cake. Used a new vanilla paste for the cake and it made all the difference. So delicious and moist.
Yes, someone took a taste test bite. 🙂
Happy birthday, America and goodbye, Julie. You are both amazing!