There's something special about the Fourth of July. More than the simple fact that, by its definition, it is the quintessential American holiday, it stands out to me as a day of the year like no other. Maybe because it lands in the summer, when the pace of life is naturally relaxed? Maybe because there are no gifts or specific ceremonies that add stress? Maybe because it's all about family time and having fun in the way each family chooses?
By saying all of that, I do not want to, in any way, diminish the significance of the date and the bravery (ludicrous bravery?) of the patriots who made the break with England and set our country on a new course, sacrificing, in many cases, their own lives to do so. Studying the first part of American history this past year with Josiah and David reminded me of how absurd it was to believe, back in the tumultuous 1770s, that tiny little America could actually pull off a separation from proud and mighty England. So we remember...and give thanks...and ENJOY the privilege of being Americans.
This year we enjoyed it by doing a few special things. Wanna see? :)
The day began with the whole family going downtown to watch Josiah run a 5K and David run a mile race.
When lunchtime rolled around, I wanted to make something special for my boys in honor of the 4th. I thought about doing this patriotic food, but then decided to tweak it a little, using bananas for the white part instead of marshmallows and putting it into a bowl instead of on a skewer (easier to eat it from a bowl). :) My original intention was to use fresh strawberries in this; but the day before the holiday, when I looked for strawberries at the grocery store we stopped at during an afternoon of errands, I discovered that they cost an arm and a leg. Right there on the sign beside the strawberries, it said, "One arm and one leg." ;-) So, being rather fond of all my limbs, I didn't get any.
After lunch, there was time for a dip in the pool--with Daddy, which makes it even better. :)
After time in the pool, we had afternoon quiet time and another nap for Moriah; then later in the day, we headed downtown again for the parade.
1. We happened to end up next to a lady who was very talkative. :) Before the parade started, she told me that her husband died in March...and that her son told her that she needed to get out and do stuff, rather than just sitting at home all the time...and that she's helping to raise her great-granddaughters. She had two girls with her who were Fresh Air kids (which was really neat because we had just had our interview two nights previously to become Fresh Air Fund hosts in August!), and she told me that she'll host two more children during the August Fresh Air week. She also told me that she's planning to host a foreign exchange student this coming year. From our brief conversation, I surmised (and I freely admit that I'm jumping to conclusions here) that she probably didn't have much money or education; and yet her heart was so big! To open her home to others...to reach OUT instead of IN during a time of grief...well, what a lady!
2. The highlight of the parade for my boys is, for better or for worse, the candy. That might be a shallow reason to love a parade, but that's how it is at this stage of life. :) Because of that, this parade was actually a disappointment to them. For one thing, we were sitting close to the end of the parade route--not intentionally. As a matter of fact, the parade went the opposite way from how it usually processes through town! But it was a little sad to see parade participants walk by, empty bags in hand, bags that we knew had once held candy but it was all gone. Neither Shav nor Josiah got any candy, and Tobin and David only got one piece each--and that because of the generosity of the boy they were sitting beside (that Josiah knew from choir). For me, I figure we have PLENTY of candy at home, and it wasn't a big deal to not be given any there. But I know that their sweet hearts were disappointed.
3. One of the things I loved about this parade was a group of cars from one of our nearby retirement communities. I remember one of the cars in particular--in the back were a couple of little old ladies who looked like they were having the time of their life riding in that parade. You should have seen them smiling and waving to the people lining the streets! I absolutely loved it. :)
4. At the end of the parade came the Salvation Army Band playing a medley of tunes, and just in front of them was a Salvation Army float with a wooden(?) horse and buggy and some cute children in it. On that was a sign which said simply, "Where will you spend eternity?" It stopped me in my tracks. "That's all that matters," I thought. "That's truly all that matters. All the rest of this will be gone in a flash, but eternity! That matters."
After the parade, we needed to feed our hungry troops, so after driving around a little, we ended up at Pizza Hut where we feasted on my favorite pizza: Meat Lover's pan pizza with pineapple added. :) Oh, and a pepperoni pizza, for those in the family with less sophisticated taste buds. ;-)
Then we went home!
It was a perfect way to end a nearly-perfect day! :)
