"Celebrate good times, c'mon!"

Yahoo! This is your celebration
Yahoo! This is your celebration

Celebrate good times, come on! (Let's celebrate)
Celebrate good times, come on! (Let's celebrate)

There's a party goin' on right here
A celebration to last throughout the years
So bring your good times, and your laughter too
We gonna celebrate your party with you

Come on now

Celebration
Let's all celebrate and have a good time
Celebration
We gonna celebrate and have a good time

It's time to come together
It's up to you, what's your pleasure

Everyone around the world
Come on!

Yahoo! It's a celebration
Yahoo!

Celebrate good times, come on!
It's a celebration
Celebrate good times, come on!
Let's celebrate

We're gonna have a good time tonight
Let's celebrate, it's all right
We're gonna have a good time tonight
Let's celebrate, it's all right

Baby...

We're gonna have a good time tonight (Ce-le-bra-tion)
Let's celebrate, it's all right
We're gonna have a good time tonight (Ce-le-bra-tion)
Let's celebrate, it's all right

Yahoo!
Yahoo!

Celebrate good times, come on! (Let's celebrate)
Celebrate good times, come on!
It's a celebration!
Celebrate good times, come on! (Let's celebrate)

(ad lib)

Come on and celebrate, good times, tonight (Celebrate good times, come on!)
'Cause everything's gonna be all right
Let's celebrate (Celebrate good times, come on)
(Let's celebrate

That is my favorite song this time of year. We're heading off to the lake to go camping with friends, watch the biggest fireworks display in Oklahoma, and one of the biggest in the country. They're firing off big time for both the 4th and Oklahoma's Centennial celebration.

I love fireworks. More than most anything in terms of celebrations. I love fireworks. They always bring my Dad closer to my mind and heart again.

When I was small, and life was indescribably bad, my Dad lived next door with his first wife and his 3 sons. Every year he'd take me down to the pier on the Hudson River to watch the fireworks. Just me. No one else. We'd sit on the edge of the pier, watch the sky light up, and he'd hold me close and whisper that all of these people were out here happy and celebrating because I'd been born. I believed him until I was almost 12. Silly, I guess, but it's one of my most cherished memories.

Dad smelling of Old Spice and cherry pipe tobacco, wrapped up in his arms, warm and safe; the breeze off the river, so many people happy and dancing (and probably more than just a few who were happier than normal courtesy of alcoholic beverages, I'm sure!); sweet memories. Some days I miss him so much I can't swallow that boulder in my throat. I wonder what he'd think of the mess I've made of my life.

Anyway, the kids and I are off. Grand Lake, good friends, a paddle boat ride to watch the rockets red glare. We're leaving in about an hour, back on Sunday. I need this break, I need to feel good feelings again, I need to get past the numbness I've erected like this impenetrable wall around myself.

I hope it's a good time. I think it will be. Katie promises to put 50 candles on the cake, even if we do have to call the fire department to put it out. LOL One to grow on, doncha know?

Have a safe Fourth, my friends. Go hug someone you love. It's important.