“Mom, you’re all about relationships!...Hayley tells me. Although she is only just-turned-sweet-eighteen, Hayley is as wise as an owl.  Or wiser. And as a single parent, I learn she is absolutely right; this is what I write about, what blows up my skirt in a torrential way.

This Fourth of July rocks, in terms of relationships. The day begins slowly, as the night before my body doesn’t want to be alive and is exhausted beyond believable: instead of going to any one of the five Friday evening events that sound really fun, I take a shower and go to bed, dropping off into a deep sleep of noisy/busy dreams. Asleep at 10:10, I awaken at 8.

Intending on going to a particular party at Kate’s, I hear that (the night before), there is no birthday cake on her birthday so I bake a chocolate cake. Regina arrives at my house early and we talk spirituality; she tells me that it’s more important to her than relationships and I have to agree—nothing excites me more than the idea of god love. Our conversation feeds me.

We go to party number one. No one is there; in fact we miss the house the first time because there are no cars in the driveway. We think we have the wrong address, call another friend to get the address and go in a circle to come back. Nothing is out and I offer to make hummus. I love being in kitchens and preparing/cooking relaxes me.

Everyone loves my chocolate cake, joke that it’s laced with weed and we are off to the park to watch the fabulous night fireworks. The party is rather low-key, yet it’s perfect to watch the sky together; we joke and laugh and I feel a part of a sweet tribe.

The next party is flowing with people, music and more “obvious love;” as time goes on, there are collecting “puppie piles” on the couches, increasing liberal French kissing, much sensual dancing. David gives Regina and I a tour of his basement and we oooh and aaahhh at the expanse and peaceful feelings of the house, his recently purchased home in a colorful neighborhood up on a hill where the views are forever. I love his two shiny black sister labs, who are both kissing-friendly.

Here there are friends from different avenues: A Course in Miracles and Dances of Universal Peace--both groups full of yearning spirits, in love with the idea of being in love; breaking their hearts to open wider; returning for more, because they know, deeply within their cellular molecules and heart, that this is what life is all about.

My body still a bit tired, yet mostly recuperated, I hesitate to dance at first. At one point I join the dancers, feeling good moving, moving to music, moving with the energy of other spirited beings. I’m really glad we have come. It’s a fabulous night to celebrate freedom/independence/beautiful spirits. It’s a great time to be alive.