Happy 250th Birthday, U.S.A.! As we celebrate two-and-a-half centuries of freedom this month, I'm reminded of all the great American pastimes we are blessed to enjoy. I envision a casual game of catch being played in the backyard, a delicious dinner from the grill, followed by yummy homemade peach ice cream, and listening to the Braves game on the radio, as the sweet scent of gardenias intermingle with the smoky smell of barbecue on a rare July breeze. Laid-back and simple — the kind of day that helps create core memories with loved ones.

Another American pastime I imagine savoring on solitary days is cracking open a great book or magazine while sitting in a front-porch rocker under a fan that drops down from a historic "haint" blue ceiling. While some people may use tablets, nothing compares to the feel of the pages between your fingers, the distinct way the paper smells, and the visual satisfaction of seeing more pages piled up on the left than on the right, as you progress to the end of a novel or collection of articles and columns.

Call me old-fashioned — I admit to romanticizing the past. "Nostalgia is a file that removes the rough edges from the good old days," said old newspaper columnist Doug Larson. I must agree.

If you'd like to plan the perfect day to create memories you can be nostalgic about many years from now, check out our Events Calendar on pages 6-11 for fun options close to home. And if you need free or low-cost ideas for how to entertain the kiddos in their last full month of summer break, don't miss this month's feature "July Jolt — Boredom Be Banished!" on pages 20-21.

Have a joyous July!