The red, white, and Blue Suede Shoes

“You remind me of the Fourth of July… makes me want a hot dog real bad.”

– Jennifer Coolidge in Legally Blonde 2, and me, basically every summer.

There’s something about the Fourth of July that just lights a firecracker in my soul. Maybe it’s the smell of grilled meat, the feeling of an explosion in your chest as colors fill the dark sky, or the sheer joy of watching someone try to relight a dud firework with a beer in hand like they are suddenly a demolition expert.

Now, let me be clear—Halloween is my favorite holiday (costumes, candy, chaos? Say less)—but the Fourth is high on the list. It’...