Alice, I once had a dog who was terrified by the sound of fireworks. Nothing could soothe his fears. He would hide under the covers in our bed and tremble and whimper for the entire night on July 4th and New Year's Eve. If I could do it over again, I would have had him sedated on those two evenings because it was miserable for him and us too.

This was my first July 4th alone. I have always loved having time to myself and found solitude to offer breathing room for creativity and contemplation. But somehow, when it becomes a constant and involuntary condition, its wide-open spaces can morph into small, dark corners once in a while. "Family" holidays can trigger that. So, sad to say, on a personal level I am glad this one is over.

Elmer