Family on the Fourth

The day began with temperatures in the seventies and a cool breeze blowing through the trees. We lugged our gear of folding chairs, various pieces of sports equipment, water bottles, and a cooler to the park. The chosen location was very near the carousel. After shuffling of chairs, discussion and sighs as we debated who will sit next to whom and doling out of sandwiches and potato chips, our meal was consumed while we basked in the sunlight of a much deserved pleasant day. The music of the carousel became the tranquil soundtrack to our afternoon of relaxation.

We alternated between playing kickball (wherein the ghost runners did most of the jaunting between bases), frisbee (which only landed in the mucky fish pond once) and stole away for moments in the shade and swigs of water as the sun became more intense and the humidity kept our sweat glistening on skin instead of evaporating into the now dissipated breeze.

The leisure time was filled with delicious exercise, giggling children, cajoling with families passing by, and the occasional childhood drama resulting from a tumble in the grass.

It was a glorious afternoon. One for the books (or blogs).

We ventured into a restaurant for dinner at just the right moment. The sky had not indicated to us that it was about to open the flood gates, so when we looked out the window while waiting for our food to arrive, we realized that we had timed our meal just right.

When we emerged from the restaurant, the town had come alive. An hour before we entered the eatery the streets had been bare. Now the neighborhood was filled with mirth, bustling bodies, and crowds watching the remnants of an Independence Day parade. The sky had cleared once again.

As dusk set in we traversed the paths of the park and watched our serene sanctuary fill with the crowds that had earlier converged on the street for the parade. In the fountain, the two marble men sprayed water at each other, and we debated which was named Spit, and which was pegged Spat.

Finally we settled back into our chairs, tired from the day, but excitedly anticipating the fireworks display that was yet to come. The children became antsy (as children do when it is late, and they are tired), so a book was read aloud using the animated voices of pirates and adventurers.

At last, the sky was lit with explosions and color. The pyrotechnics did not disappoint even as they were forced to pause so that the accumulated smoke could fade.

The show was lengthy enough that the youngest child kept anxiously asking "Is this the grand finale?"

With the grand finale complete, the tired children packed into the car, and the traffic negotiated, we all settled in for a fitful night's sleep.

As I lay in bed, waiting for the dreams to take over, I thought to myself...'This is by far the best Fourth of July I have ever experienced.' Like a child on their birthday, I didn't want it to end.