It’s just about that time again: time to break out the barbeques and watermelon, the sparklers and cool whip topped flag cakes. The 4th of July is near. And, after a recent calculation, I was shocked to discover that it’s been four years since I last ventured home to celebrate America’s birth. While I’ve enjoyed the red and white of Canada Day for several years running, I need a serious dose of red, white and blue. That’s the thing about living abroad: after an initial weaning period, it’s easy forget how much you loved certain traditions. And I love the 4th of July: the heady summer air, the explosion of light, the smell of charcoal and the dawn’s early light. And, though it’s not…