Fourth of July Memories

When I was a kid, we celebrated usually with sparklers and other firecrackers that my dad managed.

One year, I was probably 10, I organized all the kids in the neighborhood and we decorated our bikes and wagons with red-white-and blue crepe paper and had our own 4th of July parade.

I don't remember us ever having 4th of July barbecues.

As an adult, married with children, and when we lived in Oxnard, I remember one big parade that the military and the scouts and Camp Fire Girls participated in.

To watch fireworks, hubby and the kids all climbed up a ladder and sat on the roof of our family room to see the display done at Hueneme Beach. They had a perfect view.

I climbed up the ladder, but couldn't bring myself to get on the roof. (Fear of heights, still suffer from that.)

After we had our residential care home, we'd load up our ladies and drive down to Porterville and find a good place to park and watch the fireworks. (We didn't go in the stadium because our gals could never have made it up and down the bleachers.) And they never wanted to stay long, so paying to get it would've been a waste of money.) Later, we found that they enjoyed watching the fireworks on TV much more. Of course, we always celebrated with special food--hot dogs, hamburgers, corn on the cob and watermelon. That was their favorite part of the 4th of July.

Now, yes, we usually have a barbecue, and try to find some patriotic movies on one of the movie channels.

What are the ways you like to celebrate the Fourth of July?

Marilyn