Theresa Okokon was six years old when she fell in love with Disney’s “The Little Mermaid,” which inspired a main character moment for her.

I celebrated July Fourth on the beach, where I spent a lot of time observing children explore the threshold between sea and shore. Watching them chase one wave out only to be chased back by the next coming in never gets old — at least when it’s not your kid, and you don’t have to enforce nap-time or reapply their sunscreen. I’m especially amused by the kids who spend hours rolling around and digging in the sand, unbothered by looking like a panko-crusted cutlet.