Celebrate the Independence holiday with family, friends

Hi neighbors. It is Independence Day weekend! I hope you are having a great and safe, time of it.

I have had a wonderful time this past weekend with visitors from Iowa. My daughter, her husband and my granddaughter were all here. My son Bill and his fiancée were both here and a great visit was had by all.

Although there were two family reunions going on, one in Stockton and one at Pomme de Terre Lake, we all opted to stay home and celebrate our smaller version, mostly because a couple of my small family group were not feeling well.

In case you didn't catch the reference, yes, it is now fiancée instead of girlfriend. My son has waited and waited to pop the question looking for the perfect romantic spot and time. He had pondered a hot air balloon ride. A riverboat ride. A Comic-Con type situation.

Finally, they had decided to go visit some local tourist attractions and tour-friendly caves.

It was just before the cave adventure that he asked her to marry him.

Inside the cave with a large "room" displaying beautiful stalactites and stalagmites as a backdrop? No.

After the cave tour with the memory of the awesomeness of nature still fresh in their minds? No.

He was moved to propose while munching on a Jack-in-the-Box lunch in the car! Amber was impressed and said "yes," so I guess his timing was right after all. He said the most nervous part of the whole thing was trying to get down on one knee in the front seat of the car.

To give him credit for romance however, he chose the moment because he had found her a perfect necklace to seal their agreement. She had requested a necklace instead of a ring as she doesn't wear rings.

So all is well and now the wedding plans have begun. I can't wait to see what type of wedding they can actually agree on -- or not. The last I heard, one wants a sci-fi medieval costume wedding and the other wants a simple wedding and a disco type reception. I'll just watch and learn. Planning someone else's wedding is much simpler than planning one's own, so I've heard.

Anyway, while most of America celebrates independence, at least one couple will be planning a celebration of dependence upon each other. Both are good in my book.

Whatever you are doing this weekend, stay cool. The weather is supposed to be hot, hotter and hot as can be the entire weekend. I'll be surprised if it doesn't rain on one day or another just to cool down the grilling.

The long weekend will certainly pull some folks to the lakes.

I've already heard firecrackers going off in my neighborhood. I don't mind as long as no fires get started. I figure they can't be any louder than the trash trucks or the street cleaner.

If you are using fireworks this weekend, please be mindful and careful. That is gun powder you're playing with. The stick may look smaller, but it is still basically a stick of dynamite.

Until the next time friends, remember to drink lots of water, keep the kids close and enjoy your long weekend together.