Why Independence Day has always been my favorite holiday of the year

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Some holidays mark the calendar, but others define our fondest memories. In this heartwarming episode, I take you on a nostalgic journey through my favorite holiday, Independence Day.

July 4th has held a special place in my heart since childhood, when the carnival would bring magic and excitement to our little Kentucky town for one amazing week. I vividly recall the thrill of carnival rides like the ferris wheel and tilt-a-whirl, the frustration of trying to knock over those suspiciously heavy milk bottles, and the excitement when my Tennessee cousin would arrive with fireworks that weren't available in Kentucky. These celebrations held special significance – occurring during summer vacation with no school obligations, bringing distant friends back home, and uniting the entire community in celebration.

The tradition continues today, though in evolving ways. From creating new memories at Mid-Ohio IndyCar races to reunions with friends unseen for decades, July 4th remains my favorite time for connection and celebration. This year's highlights included reconnecting with friends after thirty years and celebrating my aunt and uncle's 50th wedding anniversary – proof that the holiday's spirit of togetherness endures.

Beyond festivities, Independence Day serves as an important midpoint for reflection. Have you accomplished the goals you set in January? What's standing in your way? Use this milestone to reassess, recalibrate, and recommit to your aspirations. I'd love to hear about your favorite holiday traditions and the special memories they've created for you. Share your stories with me at dannyneal.com, and until next time, keep exploring, connecting, and discovering the joy in life's journeys.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:03):
Welcome to Dan the Road Trip Guy.
I'm your host, dan, and eachweek we'll embark on a new
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So buckle up and enjoy the ride.

(00:24):
Short drive, as we celebratethe July 4th holiday.
What's your favorite holiday?
Checked back through thejournal, the product my daughter
gave me back in 2023.
You've heard it beforestoryworthcom, one of our

(00:46):
questions was what was yourfavorite holiday and why?
Well, that was pretty easy forme and pretty quick.
July 4th has always been myfavorite holiday ever since my
childhood, perhaps because itfalls during summer, which is my
favorite season.
I do enjoy the delicious foodof Thanksgiving, the family time

(01:08):
at Christmas and the relaxedtravel opportunities around
Labor Day, when there's fewerpeople on the move.
New Year's is always excitingas we look forward to a fresh
start.
Growing up.
July 4th meant a couple ofthings.
The carnival would come to oursmall Kentucky town.
It was a time when people whohad moved away would come back

(01:32):
and return and visit family andfriends.
It was also a time when thewhole community came out to
enjoy the festivities.
It was there for a week.
The carnival was fantastic,with thrilling rides, games of
chance and some really strangeside shows.
I didn't see any of those sideshows until I was older and we

(01:53):
finally ventured into some ofthem when I was in high school
and they certainly had somestrange attractions.
The games were fun.
I remember when I was a smallchild there was floating ducks
you'd pick up and you'd get aprize.
There was always knocking oversteel milk bottles, which I
don't know, maybe those thingswere super weighted down because

(02:15):
they were difficult to knockover.
There were shooting hoops and Iswear I think those rims were
smaller than normal.
There was dart throwing atballoons and you'd win a prize
and you could always test yourstrength by ringing the bell.
I'm not sure I ever did that,but I enjoyed watching grown men
do that.
There were rides like theFerris wheel, the scrambler, the

(02:35):
tilt-a-whirl and the zipper andthose were all exhilarating.
As a small child, you knowthere was the merry-go-round and
the little cars and motorcyclesthat went in a circle very
slowly, but when you're littleand four or five years old you
think you're a big deal.
Another exciting aspect of July4th was that we were out of
school for the summer, so therewas no rushing back to class

(02:58):
after the holiday.
My cousin Stuart and his familywould normally visit from
Tennessee and they would bringfireworks along.
We couldn't buy fireworks inKentucky in those days, but we
would set off what he broughtfirecrackers, bottle rockets,
roman candles and we just had ablast.

(03:19):
In recent years, my favoriteracetrack, mid-ohio, which I've
attended many, many times Henryand my brother and I camped
there for many years when he wassmall Well, they started
hosting the IndyCar race thereduring July 4th holiday and
Linda and I have made that triptwice.
We didn't make it this weekend,but we did go up to Dublin and

(03:42):
spend the night, get away, andwe got to see her cousin Eric
and his wife Kim, which isexciting because we've done that
now for about three years in arow.
We also got to see longtimefriends we had not seen, or I
had not seen, in probably 30years, and that was a real treat
.
And then on the way home wecelebrated with Linda's Uncle

(04:04):
Mike and Aunt Susan as theycelebrated their 50th
anniversary.
So it was just a fun, funweekend.
We just finished watching theIndyCar race and our favorite
driver, scott Dixon, came offwith the victory after his
teammate, alex Pillow, made abobble.
July 4th is always the time whenwe celebrate our nation's

(04:26):
independence and the freedoms wehave in this country.
It's also a great time it'shalfway through the year to look
back over some goals you set atthe beginning of the year.
Did you accomplish them?
What's holding you back?
So dream big and set thosegoals for the rest of the year
and in the meantime, drop me aline.

(04:46):
Let me know what your favoriteholiday is.
Thank you for tuning in to Danthe Road Trip Guy.
I hope you enjoyed our journeytoday and the stories that were
shared.
If you have any thoughts orquestions or stories of your own
, I'd love to hear from you.
Feel free to reach out to meanytime.
Don't forget to share thispodcast with your friends and
family and help us to spread thejoy of road trips and great

(05:08):
conversations.
Until next time, keep driving,keep exploring and keep having
those amazing conversations.
Safe travels and remember youcan find me on the internet at
dantheroadtripguycom.