I have to admit this has not been a successful SparkWeek. In my extended family, the celebrations begin with July 4, continue with my dad's birthday on July 7 (85!), mine on the 9th (last day of being 48). When I was a kid, it continued with my maternal grandfather's on the 10th (missed his birthday by 28 minutes), my paternal great-aunt's on the 18th, her brother-in-law my grandfather on the 19th and his wife, my grandmother (and her sister) on the 23rd. My brother and his wife contributed to the parade by having one of their 4 daughters also on July 18th.

The eldest generation is gone now, and the youngest lives 2+ hours away, so it's not all parties all the time. But the 4th was a great cookout, Dad's birthday was a takeout Chinese feast, and I always go to lunch on my BD with 2 friends who share that same birthday. Today I will be reasonable, and get myself to the pool for a workout.