My friend Paru loves the 4th of July. While it has been many years since we’ve had the opportunity to celebrate together, I can’t imagine a 4th without thinking of her.

When we worked together in our 20’s, she lived in Foggy Bottom and her apartment was the place to meet before heading to the Mall to watch the fireworks. Today, the thought of getting in that crowd doesn’t even cross my mind but in those days, between our youthful attitude and her enthusiasm, there wasn’t anywhere else to be.

The year that she became a citizen, we gathered in her apartment for the 4th while she played patriotic songs. There isn’t a time I hear “God Bless the USA” that I don’t think of that day. Sometimes it takes a newer perspective for you to appreciate all you already have – sort of like when you have visitors and take them sightseeing in your city. Your city, through their eyes, becomes magical to you again. Paru showed us that day (although we gave her a bunch of grief) that America is magical.

Today as we celebrate the 4th, let’s see America through the eyes of Paru. Let’s see all the greatness that it is and that it still can be. Let’s remember and celebrate the freedoms we have, the opportunities that exist and the diversity that formed this nation and continues to do so. Let’s put aside the labels that define us – Republican, Democrat etc. and just use one today – American.

Paru is a woman of many talents. My favorites – she can make a hell of a grilled cheese and she can so wonderfully put into words, what so many of us are thinking. Today, on Fabebook she wrote “On our individual birthdays we usually think about making the next year better – today let us collectively commit to making our nation better through our words or actions.”

Happy Birthday America – here’s wishing you a great year ahead!

Here’s a little reminder of the Preamble.