Happy 4th of July

My husband and I were reminiscing about 4th of July's when we were growing up. I wonder if any of you have the similar memories. The 4th of July was a very exciting time for me as a child. We always spent the day before decorating our bikes at the local high school gluing red, white and blue crepe paper all over in fun patterns for the big parade and contests. I was always afraid to ride it home so I would walk it all the way home so I wouldn't ruin the decorations.

I would wake up early to get my bike over to be in the parade down our main street and then they would judge the decorated bikes for ribbons and bags of candy. The mayor and other officials would sit in the back of convertible cars and throw candy and after our part in the parade which was always first we would run to collect the hard candy.

Next after a quick stop at home, (by this time I would ride my bike because the judging was over) to drop off my bike and treasures we would walk to the park. We lived very near to it in fact just beyond our back yard was a golf course connected to the park. Now the real fun began.

We would line up for free cracker jack, free ice cream with the little wooden spoon and free flags. After that there were contests, my favorite was the penny scramble. I remember waiting in the anxiously as they lay down the saw dust and then buried the pennies and if you were lucky larger coins into it. They would actually shoot off a gun and what seemed like thousands of us which was probably 30 or 40 kids would dash and dive into the sawdust and begin the search for coins. One year I found a quarter and I thought I was the luckiest kid alive. There were water balloon fights and 3 legged races, potato sack races and there were prizes if you won. Nothing major except to the winner.

There were people having picnics and sparklers and fire crackers were everywhere. I headed home with my latest rewards and then we had a barbecue with the neighbors. My Dad always burned the hot dogs and to this day I love a burned hot dog. The potato salad was the best, the watermelon the sweetest and I had not a care in the world. I didn't know how to have any yet. At night with flash lights and blankets and bug spray, we headed through the backyard and up the hill to the golf course where we had a perfect view of the fire works. We would come back home and finish the day with sparklers and popcorn balls. I would fall asleep to the sounds of the last firecrackers off in the distance.

We still have fun 4th of July festivities. Our daughters best friend (we call her our other daughter) was born on July 4th so now every year we go and spend the day with her and her family. We have very good memories from that and my daughter especially loves that her friend has a birthday on the 4th. I guess good memories are found in many different ways. I am so lucky to have good memories growing up and good times to look forward to every year.

Happy 4th of July everyone!!