Stars and stripes and six-string

Pulled together a last-minute Fourth of July thing and somehow everyone actually showed up. Carmen brought her famous guacamole, Sarah made these incredible red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting, and Michelle surprised us all by arriving with a cooler full of homemade lemonade. Alex came straight from his shift at the hospital still wearing his scrubs under his polo.

The whole crew before heading up to watch fireworks

We started inside with way too much food spread across the coffee table, everyone talking over each other in the best possible way. Jake disappeared for a few minutes and came back with his guitar - I had no idea he’d been practicing patriotic songs. Apparently he spent the last week learning “This Land Is Your Land” specifically for tonight.

Stars and stripes and six-string

When the fireworks started going off across the city, we all migrated to the balcony. Jake kept playing softly while we watched the distant explosions paint the sky. There’s something about live music during fireworks that makes everything feel more intentional, less like just another holiday and more like an actual celebration. Sarah kept pointing out which neighborhoods the different displays were coming from, and Alex gave us a running commentary on the chemistry behind the colors.

Strange how six people on a small balcony can feel like the perfect crowd size. Nobody checking their phones, just watching the sky and listening to Jake’s guitar. These are the nights that make all the planning worth it.