...and the rocket's red glare

In our little town of Bristow, middle America, I love the fact that celebrations such as the 4th of July are still a full-fledged community big deal.  Our lovely city park opens the pool to the kiddies and offers unlimited free hamburgers, hotdogs and water.  Throughout the afternoon there is three-legged races, a watermelon eating contest and a homemade pie auction. Families, friends and neighbors gather together, and for a few hours on this warm summer evening we look like the town one might see in an old 60's TV sitcom, Mayberry or Little House on the Prairie.

The local boy scout troop was set to re-enact Washington's crossing the Delaware, but, unfortunately, the boat was "commandeered by the British" and unable to take place.  At the risk of taking severe liberties with our Nation's history, this was the story put out by the powers that be and believe me they were sticking to it.  Word on the street was that someone dropped the ball on the ordering of said boat, but such is life in the small town.  It was not the end of the world and the Fireworks display was a sight to behold.  The anticipation of waiting for Washington was soon forgotten amid the "oooohs" and "awwws" of the evening crowd that had gathered at our lake's edge. 

I have to admit, this is one of my favorite celebrations.  We gather the lawn chairs and head down to the lake to meet cousins and my aunt and uncle, then we move our chairs as we follow the shade of the setting sun.  This year we moved three times before the sun was low enough in the sky to no longer bother us with it's unrelenting glare and heat.  It's like playing hide and seek and the sun is it. 

We grow in number every year as well.  Last year Phillip went to the pool with a boatload of cousins, while I sat with my cousin, Lew, at lake's edge to watch the fireworks.  Em was still recovering from her surgery so Benny stayed home with her and the aunt and uncle were not up to going out after a day of barbequing.  It's fun having a familial crowd to share these celebrations with.  It's the making of memories to pass down to the next generation, so one of these days they will be sharing with families, "I remember when...".