Happy Fourth of July
I don't remember much about Independence Day celebrations from my youth.
It sticks in my mind we went into town for the parade. I do remember when I was maybe eight years old or less an Indian tribe, I don't remember which, marched in the parade with their traditional apparel.
One of the marchers had the traditional headdress, and they were all stoic in their march. I wonder what thoughts went through their head. Was it just another parade for them? It had to be hot in their buckskin clothes.
There is a game that is supposed to encourage people to communicate. It uses questions, one of which was 'what would you be in a parade?'
I've thought about that on occasion. It wouldn't ever happen, but...I would fancy myself as the Princess from Laddie, riding a beautiful horse.
As I said, that's not happening. I don't like crowds and I don't like being the center of attention.
At one time they had marching bands that could actually march and play music. It was a common complaint with my grandfather that 'the only thing marching bands could play any more was, 'bom, bom, bom, bom...' which was the big bass drum as the band marched. No music, just beat.
I did march as a pom pom girl one year with the band. We were the most uncoordinated group of pom pom girls I think there ever was. Even with the band we all had our own special drum.
And there might have been a horse show we attended somewhere. During those years horses, horse shows, and even horse races at the county fairs were still popular.
As a grown up we have done less and less as far as parades. Where there used to be history, marching bands, and floats in parades we have fire trucks, tractors, and people who drive around squirting unsuspecting spectators with water.
But where we never had people throwing candy...not that I remember, now it's a real bummer if they don't throw candy.
We had a late supper last night, and I was thrilled because my social director was actually social and directoring.
We had our favorite neighbors from 'just south' of us, and our state laws now allow us peons to purchase and shoot fireworks, so we did.
Between our social director and our neighbor, we had a pretty good personal fireworks
show in our own yard.
Big Fuzzy brought sparklers to entertain the kiddos while the fireworks guys got the hang of the fireworks. My Adorable Cousin and a crew from her house came out and joined us at our show and it was fun. It was a good time had by all with food and frolic.
But the thing that's irreplaceable? Watching families grow up with the sense of family. Most of our family had their own activities. Our oldest son lives far enough away so that on a holiday it's nice for them to just chill at their home.
But some of us are close enough it's nice to enjoy each other's company and to have these times for our kids/grandkids to know they have family. It's a sense we are losing to our mobile society.
