Independence Day

I'm as patriotic as the next guy and more so than many. I love my country even with all its characters and their defects. However, since IT'S ALL ABOUT ME, Independence Day today means ...

... I no longer need to drink alcohol
... I no longer resent others for my perceptions of them
... I no longer push friends out of my life
... I no longer plan my days around my alcohol consumption
... I no longer pass out at night in order to get some sleep
... I no longer ignore the wishes of others so that I can get fucked up to oblivion
... I no longer panic when a cop is in my rearview mirror
... I no longer expect others to be more than they are
... I no longer panic when there's less than a 6-pack in the fridge
... I no longer go 2 or 3 days without food consumption
... I no longer have to sleep it off during the afternoon, just so I can get started again
... I no longer have to lie to my friends or make excuses why I can't be somewhere
... I no longer have enexplainable bumps and bruises
... I no longer need to have someone else tell me what I did last night
... I no longer make unitelligible phone calls at odd hours (or any hours)
... I no longer cry because I'm depressed or lonely

There are more. I think you get the gist of why I feel INDEPENDENT today.