One Independent Girl

Happy Independence Day!  

One of the wonderful things about the neighborhoods surrounding us is that come July 4th, it turns into a little piece of Americana around here.  Our own neighborhood puts on a parade that goes right past our house.  Yes, we only need grab a cup of coffee and step out to the curbside to enjoy it.  Fire trucks, bagpipers, floats, a hodgepodge neighborhood band, and kids on every type of wheeled contraption will decorate and join in on the fun (along with a few politicians ready to shake hands and kiss babies.)

Last year we did just that -- decorated the wagon and trod the 11-block parade route.  This year, I was ready to just watch again.  Following the parade, they have turtle races and ice cream sandwiches down at the park.

In the evening, families congregate down at the park to set off loads of fireworks...simultaneously.  Spectate at your own risk, however.  These people are not exactly professionals, no matter what they might think.

Due to the holiday falling on a Sunday, our parade took place a day early.  But that was alright, as it afforded us to head about 8 blocks west to enjoy another neighborhood parade.  We have friends that live along Collins Park and they hold a brunch every year.  Usually we are sprinting from our parade onto this one which typically begins one hour after ours begins, but it was a leisurely year since they were held on separate days.

Though our parade continues to grow every year, theirs is even bigger and grander than ours - an entire neighborhood community coming together in celebration this one day of the year in a way that we don't typically find these days.  In fact, you could almost see the spectral vision of Norman Rockwell as the Grand Marshal leading the scores of families in all their red, white and blue glory.

Anna said, "The bagpipes make me smile."

Of course, it wouldn't be a holiday without candy (groan).  Anna now has two buckets full of sweets.
I'll have to covertly throw away pieces here and there so she doesn't eat ALL of it.

After the parade, the skies opened up and dumped rain all afternoon.  We stayed home and watched a movie, but at bedtime we heard a lot of explosive commotion going on outside.

The rain had subsided and the sky was lit up with a combination of fireflies and fireworks.  We walked down to the edge of the park so Anna could watch a bit of the show.  She was so tired, though, it was only a couple of minutes before she asked to go back home to bed.  On the way back she said, "When I grow up I'll be able to set off those firework bombs."

It was actually quite relaxing, walking home in the dark with just the flurry of booms, pops, crackles and whistles surrounding us audibly from every direction, and the smell of gunpowder and earth intensified by the earlier rain.  Amazing how the noisiest night of the year can still be so peaceful.

Happy July 4th, everyone.