A Sticky Fourth

The heat would not stop us from celebrating the Fourth of July…We took a deep breath, cracked open the air-conditioned seal of our house and ventured outside for the annual children’s parade. Someone said it was the 33rd…that’s a lot of children. I’d also heard this was the warmest Fourth of July since 1949, in fact, we broke that record with a nice 101 degrees. When the low for the day is 80 overnight, you know you’re in for it. We packed lots of water, a spray bottle, put on our smiles and enjoyed the experience. Luckily, our parade route is shaded and there as a little breeze off the lake.

We didn’t do much for decorating. Most of our decorations were still packed. I was able to scrounge up a few patriotic fixings from last year so we quickly draped them on the stroller and bike and were off. This was the first year Ella’s been on a trike for the parade! Big step! We had the double stroller in case the heat tired her out, but she was quite the little trooper. I figured that she probably pedaled about a mile total. Definitely a change of pace from circles in the gym at school. We were so proud of her! The only problem with having Ella on three wheels was the lack of steering. Ella has always been observant. Nothing gets past her, not even as a baby. However, when you’re on a trike, you tend to steer where you’re looking, which in Ella’s case was everywhere but forward! Loran kept having to correct her as she drove into fences, shrubs and generally took the road less travelled.

At the end of the parade route we gather as a neighborhood in the park and feast on watermelon and participate in games of physical and mental endurance. Time to get serious. I participated in the peanut race where you run the course attempting to keep your peanut on the spoon. I may have cheated a little and held a fellow competitor/friend back a bit. Loran wasn’t as conniving. He made the course look easy in the heat. I would almost think he’s been setting his alarm for the middle of the night so he can sneak out and train. Ella thought about trying out the wheelbarrow race. Once she was up on her arms, she decided it would be more fun if I just flipped her legs so she could do a front roll, so while others wheelbarrowed on, she did front rolls at the finish line.

After the festivities, we retreated back to the house for most of the day. We had a smaller version of our “annual” BBQ. The mid-week holiday pared down the guest list. Loran was brave and ventured outside to man the grill and cook our steaks and corn to perfection despite the threat heat stroke. 

The girls were a mix of excitement and apprehension as we walked down to the beach for fireworks. Armed with glow wands, they were pretty excited to be out past bedtime. Once the fireworks started, they weren’t bothered, and loved it! No fear, just excitement at the beautiful colors. However, like father like daughter…Ella started doing something that Loran used to do before we were married. Pre-guessing the fireworks color. It was almost eerie to hear. Won’t be long and she’ll also be yelling out the chemical make-up of each. You’ve never lived until your fireworks show is punctuated with, “Sodium chloride! Strontium! Barium!” God Bless America.