I love July. When I was a kid, it felt like the true start of summer: school was out, the beach was nearby, and the Fourth of July was just around the corner. I loved watching fireworks and setting them off. As a young teenager, I even practiced my sales skills by buying fireworks (names and places withheld), riding my bike home, and selling them to my neighnor's kids at a 50% markup, depending on the item. I never sold anything too powerful, but it was a good summer gig for several years leading up to the Fourth.

July is full of family celebrations: my birthday is on the 28th, and my brother-in-law’s is the same day. My son Joe’s birthday is on the 8th, my stepson Anthony’s is on the 7th, and my wedding anniversary is on the 5th, which is also my sister-in-law’s birthday. With so much to celebrate, I’m happy to be posting on this first day of July.