Small Town Celebrations

We are getting close to Independence Day.  Growing up at Aqualand, this signaled the beginning of one of my favorite things- parade season!  We trucked our animals and our friends from small town to small town to ride through the parade, where I have to admit-  we won lots of trophies.  Who could compete with a trailer load of fawns, baby timber wolves, baby bears and the like.  Every now and then we attempted to change things up a bit.  I still remember the year of the bi-centennial, when several others and I dressed up like patriot women stitching the American flag, surrounded by of course, baby animals.  At the end of the parade, I stood up and realized I had stitched my granny dress (remember when we called them that- or Maxi-dresses?!) to the flag during the parade.  Betsy Ross I was not!

It seemed like every year a baby would get nervous and wet on my lap...every year there were cheers as we rode by.

I remember too the fireworks, we watched them either in Boulder Jct or in Sayner- the two towns we made sure to parade in.  Or, when we were younger, our neighbors would host a huge party and they set off their own fireworks display.  My most vivid memory is that of their 33 gallon garbage can filled with the longest sparklers- the 36 inchers....we would light them on road flares set up along the driveway and write our names in the air all night long. 

I have always loved fireworks.  One of my fondest memories is from 1977 when I visited a boy in Eagle River the night of their display and we rowed out into the middle of the lake he lived on, laid back on the bench seats and watched both the fireworks being shot off at the fair grounds and an absolutely fantastic display of northern lights throbbing across the sky behind them.  I am quite sure I will never see something that rare again.

And then there is my spouse. My husband has a reputation.  Just ask my family. He loves fireworks too, almost as much as he loves bonfires.  And he is a retired military man.  The combination led to ordinance displays of unique and interesting effect.  That's all I dare say about that...:)! 

I remember chicken dinners put on by Lions, Firemen and the crazy one day trout pond. When I got older, Independence Day was one of the rare times when we all returned from wherever our adult lives had taken us.  I would anticipate and keep an eye out for old friends and old classmates, delighting when I caught up with someone I had not seen for years or in some cases for years and years.

Independence-  what a word!  It instills in us the belief in our ability to be the master of our own destiny.  It is a pulling away and a stretching word.  It is a word of hope and future.  A strong word, a sometimes lonely word. But it is our word, a truly American word.

I think every small business owner knows the feelings this thought brings forth.  For our country is full of the little guys, the artisans, craftsmen, brewers and chefs who create products and places for us all the come together. 

Happy Independence Day Boulder Jct- thanks for all your support!