Pull Up a Chair: July 3, 2026

Well friends, we have officially arrived at the Fourth of July weekend, which means summer is now in full swing whether we’re ready for it or not. The fireworks stands have appeared on every corner, grocery stores are packed with people buying enough food to feed a small army, and somewhere in every neighborhood there is at least one person who has already started setting off fireworks several days early.

Honestly, I think it’s written into the Constitution at this point.

There is something about the Fourth of July that always feels nostalgic to me. Even now, as an adult, this holiday brings back memories of childhood summers, family cookouts, folding lawn chairs, sparklers, and staying up later than usual waiting for fireworks to begin. Back then, summer felt endless. The days stretched on forever, and there was never any concern about calendars, responsibilities, or how quickly time seemed to move.

Now I blink and somehow it’s July.

Life at Shady Pines

The free-range seniors have spent most of this week preparing for the holiday by discussing food. To be fair, that is how most family holidays begin around here. Before anyone talks about fireworks, decorations, or plans, there is always a detailed conversation about what everyone is bringing to eat.

Naturally, everyone has strong opinions.

Somebody wants hamburgers. Somebody else wants hot dogs. Somebody is worried there won’t be enough potato salad. Another person insists there will be entirely too much potato salad. Then there is always the dessert debate, which somehow becomes surprisingly competitive.

I’ve learned over the years that holiday meals are less about the actual food and more about the tradition of arguing over the food beforehand.

The funny thing is that no matter how much discussion takes place, we always end up with enough leftovers to feed everyone for the next three days anyway.

This Week in the Wilderness

This week felt like one of those weeks where I spent a lot of time getting ready for things instead of actually doing them. There were blog posts to finish, plans to organize, groceries to pick up, and a never-ending list of small tasks that somehow multiplied overnight.

I don’t know how adulthood works exactly, but I am convinced that every completed task secretly recruits two additional tasks before it leaves.

The heat certainly hasn’t helped. July arrived determined to remind us exactly where we live. By noon each day, the air outside felt thick enough to spread on toast. At this point, stepping outdoors requires both commitment and hydration.

I have fully embraced the summer strategy of doing as little as possible outside during the hottest part of the day. If something can wait until evening, it absolutely should.

Summer Memories

As we head into the holiday weekend, I’ve been thinking about the summers I remember most. What surprises me is that I don’t necessarily remember the big events as clearly as I remember the little things surrounding them.

I remember family gathered around picnic tables.

I remember ice cream melting faster than it could be eaten.

I remember sitting outside after dark catching fireflies in jars and thinking it was the greatest entertainment ever created.

I remember fireworks reflected in people’s faces while everyone looked up at the sky.

Most of all, I remember being together.

The older I get, the more I realize those are the moments that matter. Not the perfect decorations or elaborate plans. Just people spending time together and creating memories without even realizing they’re doing it.

A Few Things I’m Loving Right Now

Watermelon season has officially reached its peak, and honestly, I could probably survive on cold watermelon and iced coffee until September if necessary.

I’ve also been enjoying these longer summer evenings. There is something comforting about looking outside at eight o’clock and still seeing daylight. It makes the day feel less rushed somehow.

And while I complain about the heat as much as anyone else, I will admit there is something special about summer nights. The sound of cicadas in the trees, distant fireworks beginning to pop, and the feeling that everyone is staying outside just a little longer than usual.

Those moments make the heat a little easier to tolerate.

Before You Go

As we celebrate Independence Day this weekend, I hope you find a little time to enjoy whatever summer looks like for you. Maybe that’s a big family gathering. Maybe it’s a quiet cookout in the backyard. Maybe it’s simply sitting on the porch with a cold drink and watching the world go by.

Whatever your plans, don’t get so caught up in creating the perfect holiday that you forget to enjoy it while it’s happening.

The dishes can wait. The laundry can wait. The emails can definitely wait.

Summer moves quickly enough on its own.

So eat the dessert. Watch the fireworks. Stay outside a little longer than usual. Laugh with the people you love.

And if someone offers you a second slice of pie, it’s practically your patriotic duty to accept.

Happy Fourth of July, friends.