Let me answer this question first. No, I didn't see President Obama, The First Lady or the First Daughters. They'd made their appearances earlier that day, I was told.
I was invited to spend July 4, 2009 at the White House a few weeks prior. I was really excited about this but had to keep it hush-hush. Right.
My daughter and son accompanied me through the growing throngs of people headed to the Mall to watch the annual firework display. We followed the stream until we arrived at the gate to the White House grounds. Specifically, the South Lawn of the White House.
Flashing IDs, opening purses, and walking through metal detectors, we joined 1,200 families of military personnel. It was like a corporate outing outside. Kids milled about with painted faces and balloon animals. Some people were dressed like they were going to a garden party and others dressed like they were going to a Nationals' ball game. At stations throughout, we were served endless Dove ice cream bars and assorted beverages (sodas, beer and wine -- the REAL food had been served hours before we got there). We spread out our blanket and plopped down for a good show watching live performances of Jimmy Fallon, singer Michelle Branch and the Foo Fighters.
I can't say I've ever watched Jimmy much on TV, ever heard Michelle Branch sing or rocked to the Foo Fighters before but while sitting on our blanket on the grounds of the White House at this historic time in our country's history, sipping ginger ale from my free, commemorative imprinted, plastic cup, I was going to enjoy every second of whoever performed.
At about 9:15pm, the fireworks burst into the sky. I watched the incredible pyrotechnic display and thought, "how blessed am I, how blessed are we all right now to be here, at this place with my family. Yeah, there are still some worrisome things in life we all have to deal with when we leave here tonight, but not now."
I took a relaxing sigh, oohed and aahhed at the firey plummage above, and said "thank you God."
