Saturday, July 4, 2009

WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL

fireworks2

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

I love the 4th of July! Is there any American for whom this day doesn’t invoke memories of your childhood. The wonder of it all! Fireworks are such a mystery to me. Don’t blow it for me by explaining them either. I like the mystery.

When I was a kid, we would trek to the next town (ours didn’t have fireworks), park the car a million miles away from the park, walk said million miles to search for the perfect location which was preferably on the big hill and plant ourselves there on a blanket for the duration. I loved how I could feel the big booms inside my chest. I loved to hear all the OOOOOs and AHHHHHHS muttered by every.single.person.there.

Later as an adult, I was disappointed that the OOOOOOOS and AHHHHHHs of my youth didn’t carry over. It seemed we had lost the wonder. Oh sure, people still flocked to fireworks displays on the 4th but we didn’t seem to be as mesmerized by it all as we used to be. Or was it just me? And then……..they put them to music.

The first time I watched a fireworks display set to music was at Walt Disney World. And nobody does it better. I was suddenly 7 years old again as I sat there mouthing WOW over and over again. That was it for me. The ONLY way to watch fireworks is to have them set to music.

The Mouse House isn’t the only one who knows how to put on a great show. Our local baseball stadium is the Spring training home to the Marlins and the St. Louis Cardinals. We also have minor league games there all summer. Every Friday home game has fireworks……………….to music. It’s great. Sometimes MHS and I will go there during the last innings just to see the fireworks.

Tonight we are going to our dear friends, Lolly and company’s, annual 4th of July party. We will watch the fireworks that are just over the golf course from their patio. You might remember my friend, Lolly, from our annual Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Adventures. Lolly feels the same about fireworks as I do. She’ll set them to her own music. I just got a call from Lolly who said she didn’t know what the fireworks would be like this year with all the cut-backs. And then she said in true Lolly-fashion, “It doesn’t matter though because we have sparklers.” No doubt, a good time will be had by all.

My family and I are very proud to be Americans. We cherish our freedom and independence and we are very grateful for all those who have sacrificed to give it to us.

From all of us to all of you,

Happy Independence Day!

Big Hugs, SMB

22 comments:

Debbie said...

Happy Fourth Smart Mouth! Thanks for the walk down memory lane....it sounds just like my childhood. I too miss the Ooooh's and Ahhhh's. It's not you...it's a different generation than us. We live near a lake and we also have a couple of renegade neighbors who sneak illegal fireworks back into Maine and let thos M80's off in our neighborhood! Some of the fireworks from the lake, we can see from our house....so it's all good. I like your friend Lolly already...she sounds like a true american girl!

Michel said...

Shit! I love love LOVE sparklers! I still kinda think they work by magic!

cheatymoon said...

Love the magical references, SMB. I'm feeling less of it as I get older.
Hoping you have a delightful fourth!

K Dubs said...

Have a wonderful time :) Must love the sparklers!! And poppers - those are always great, too. We are off to two cookouts and fireworks. Yay!!

Fragrant Liar said...

Happy 4th! I am a huge fan of the fireworks too, and boy that was a nice walk down Memory Lane, so thanks. I think the oooohs and aaahhhs were diminished for me because of the crowds and the long lines and the roads-turned-parking lots. It just became more of a hassle and ruined it for me. And of course, it always takes place in the flaming temps of summer. With my heat intolerance, this really cool holiday has kind of gone to hell.

But like you, I am a proud American, through and through.

NikonSniper said...

wow what a photo. happy fourth.
nikonsniper steve

Hit 40 said...

Very sweet post!!! I love the fireworks at the Big Mouse House too!! Especially Epcots. Very over the top.

Liz Mays said...

You are so right in that NOBODY does it like Disney. It's such a magical end to a magical day. :)

Pseudo said...

Happy Independence Day SMB! And, I still love sparklers.

Linda said...

Happy 4th SMB & MHS! I'll be thinking of you when I light my sparklers:)

Girl Tornado said...

A very Happy Independence Day from us to your family! Sounds like you will have a really fun time tonight at Lolly's.

I too remember all the ooh's and aah's from my childhood whenever we would go somewhere to see the large fireworks display. What great times those were!

We're not going anywhere, just recuperating from the family being here overnight. Hubby's grandson Cash is always into trouble. He found it within 30 mins of being here... I discovered a clogged up bathroom sink because he shoved his bandaid wrappings down the drain, then put the rubber stopper on top. There was more but I won't go into it all here... Oh yes, it's always an adventure when he is here, LOL.

So we will hang out at the homestead this year, and maybe set off a few of our lame sparklers -- or maybe hubby has something better in his big box of fireworks. :)

Joanna Jenkins said...

I'm proud to be an American too! Enjoy the 4th and the fireworks!!!!! LOVE the photo.

Wsprsweetly Of Cottages said...

Hope you are having the time of your life! :)
Hugs,
Mona

tera said...

I hope you have a super time tonight! I am sad, I have to work so no fireworks for me. But hubs and I are planning on maybe going to Vegas for New Years, just to see the fireworks show!
So, it's all good!

betty-NZ said...

Great post! I think you said it all for all real Americans.

♥ Braja said...

I love sparkles too :) And I've always been "independent," but no one flippin' celebrates it....

Skye said...

I hope you had a good time on the Fourth! (I'm a Canuck and so celebrate on the first)

My favorite time with fireworks was when I was living in Vancouver. They had this great week long competition between cigarette companies and beer manufactureres. Each show was at least 2 hours long, and yep they were set to music. Those were the best firework displays I've ever seen in my life!

Thanks for the memories!

Oh yes, I came here via Donna's blog "Carnwaths Corner", I'm going to have to thank her for the link :)

Kelly P said...

OMG! Just beautiful.

Mike said...

I love fireworks also, I remember the bangs being louder when I was a kid, I used to have to cover my ears!

midlife slices said...

Happy belated 4th to you and yours, my dear. We had a very good one with good friends and had the best seats for the fireworks display. We all swam in the pool or sat in the hot tub while several displays were going off all around us. It was like fireworks in stereo. I'm proud to be an American. Always have been....always will be.
HUGS

Kate said...

I have never seen fireworks to music before, and now I think I don't want to because I don't want to be disappointed for the rest of my life! I lost a lot of interest in holidays until my son was born, now I get to live them (with all the excitement) through his eyes. It is such a high for me making them the best they can for him!

Lori said...

I love sparklers too! I also love fireworks. One of our neighboring towns does their fireworks to music and it is amazing. This year we were out of town so didn't go there but nonetheless we still enjoyed the fireworks we saw.

My little people totally freaked out over them...lol. I don't think I've heard the words "Holy Cow" and "Holy Smokes" and "That one's my favorite." so many times in one night...lol. It made walking over a mile there and back worth it!