That’s right, all the activities I’ll be enjoying mentally over this jam-packed weekend with my feet up on my easy chair or maybe stretched out on a chaise lounge chair on our sun-drenched balcony overlooking hopefully a tranquil ocean or see me sleepwalking on the beach.  

On my imaginary program will be the rip-roaring Houston Rodeo, dazzling fireworks on the East River, but I pray not another Russian laser lights display from Kiev delivered by that sorcerer of misery and death, Pugnacious Putin.  

Of course, there’ll be a concert or two as my dad was an orchestra conductor, plus a humongous parade like many I saw on the Boardwalk in Atlantic City, where I grew up near the blue properties, Boardwalk and Park Place. Then I’ll take a speedboat ride from Capt. Starn’s and afterward of course, a lavish barbecue with our whole family around us on facetime in my mind.

So what if one of my daughters will be in Pennsylvania, another in Margate, New Jersey and third about 50 miles north of me in Port St. Lucie. I don’t want the latter riding her motorcycle to join us with so many drinks on the house of representatives happening round after round along crowded thoroughfares in laid back, all too soon slumbering South Florida.  

My poor son Andrew will be on his back in Long Beach, New York alas recovering from that ultimate party pooper, Covid.  Get well soon, my son.  I’ll be dreaming of you running marathons, scoring goals, winning cups.

Yes, I clearly remember what each of my offspring look like, so we’ll all be mentally together, just like in the ole pre-pandemic days, which are getting fuzzy and harder to remember but will always be rip-roaring in our sleep.

I’ll be dressed in my mind like another Thomas, the one who drafted that historic document, the Declaration of Independence from Boris Johnson.

Yes, this weekend I’ll look and act like our founding father Jefferson and I’ll be celebrating that momentous day on July 2nd, 1776.

That’s the day when the Continental Convertible Congress voted in favor of converting from a stepchild colony to a mature independent. 

Two days later delegates from the 13 colonies adopted what wives sometimes want from their husbands these days, a Declaration of Independence in bed—especially now after the Supreme Court Decision outlawing assault weapons in uteri.

No, it’s not going to be lonely for my wife Rita and I as there’s always Pabst Blue Ribbon, and we’ve invited Ma and Pa Kettle One, along with Mr. and Mrs. Tonic and their little ones, Lois Lemon and Louie Lime, to join the make-believe, but lively pool party in our minds.  

Happy Fourth Everybody!   

Good night.  

About the Author: When he’s not dreaming, Tom Madden is writing countless articles, a weekly blog (MaddenMischief.com) and many books, his latest WORDSHINE MAN, available on Amazon. He also creates TV series, one is Xtra Terresla, whose main character is modeled after Tesla founder Leon Musk, soon to own Twitter. Madden is the founder and CEO of TransMedia Group, an award-winning public relations firm.