Fourth of July has always been a favorite holiday.  While I recognize it’s significance for our country for me it’s really more about communities and traditions.   Parades, BBQ’s, flags and banners.  Long warm days that end with ice cream cones and fireworks.

Traditions.

Kali and I have a special tradition on Fourth of July.  This tradition involves a scarf that she received when she arrived from Taiwan a little over two years ago.  She and the other 23 dogs that traveled over 6,000 miles to meet their new families at  SFO arrived sporting light brown scarves.  Upon arriving at SFO rescue group volunteers replaced the brown scarves with red, white, and blue scarves that had stars, stripes and flags peppered throughout the design.  For me this was symbolic of Kali’s New Life In America and the changes that were to come for both her and I.  I still recall vividly the moment the scarf was put on her and how I felt at that moment. I wrote about this last year in a post called Tradition.

So again this Fourth Of July weekend I have pulled out this very special scarf and placed it around Kali’s neck.  She’ll wear it throughout the weekend and we’ll be reminded that inspite of many warts the USA is a country I’m blessed and proud to live in.  But mostly I’ll be reminded of the night Kali arrived in America and changed our lives forever.

2015 Fourth Of July Portrait:  “She was an American Girl…”  – Tom Petty

2016 Fourth of July. A little more casual up her at The Golden K