July 4th Isn’t Sneaking Up On Anybody This Year

If you've lived in Lawton, Oklahoma, for more than about five minutes, you already know what's coming.

The fireworks stands are opening up, sales are happening, and bottle rockets are back on the menu this year...

This is your annual reminder.

If you have dogs that hate loud noises, kids with sensory issues, veterans with PTSD, or if you simply prefer a quiet evening, you have plenty of time to prepare.

It isn't last-minute. We're not down to the wire. We're sitting here in the middle of June, and yet I can almost bet the local Facebook groups will still be surprised and full of condemnation when we start to celebrate America's 250th birthday in a few weeks.

"Why are people shooting fireworks?"

 

"My dog is terrified."

 

"Fireworks are illegal in city limits."

 

"Can't everyone just stop?"

But fireworks on July 4th, specifically this year's Fourth of July, shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone in America.

You don't have to like them. You don't have to participate. You don't even have to leave your house... But you probably shouldn't be shocked when Americans celebrate America's birthday.

'Merica!

That's not me dismissing legitimate concerns. Nobody wants your dog to freak out and hide under the bed in terror. Nobody wants your kid to have a rough night. There's not a single red-blooded American out there aiming to trigger your PTSD. We just want to celebrate the most American holiday of the year, especially a milestone 250th anniversary like we will this year.

Millions of people are going to celebrate the holiday exactly the way Americans have celebrated it for generations, and we all know it's coming.

That's the important part.

We've got more than two weeks before July 4th arrives. That's enough time to make a plan.

Maybe that's arranging a quiet room in the house. Maybe it's talking with your veterinarian about options for anxious pets. Perhaps it's planning a movie marathon, turning on some background noise, or spending the evening somewhere a little farther from town.

Whatever your solution looks like, you've got time to figure it out before the first firework goes off... Unless you're in my neighborhood, where the American goodness of properly "testing the goods" started happening last night.

Try to be understanding. We've known about it for the last 249 years. July 4th isn't sneaking up on anybody, and it will likely be the loudest year we've had since 1976.

If you're planning on doing it big this year for the America 250 celebrations, you might head to King Fireworks in Geronimo. Their selection is massive, and they are the coolest people in the fireworks game.