Plans for July Fourth!

Hi neighbors. I hope you like mid-week holidays because July 4 falls on Wednesday this week. Although several may take off the following Thursday and Friday to have a week-long weekend, most workers will celebrate the single day and return to their routine afterward.

What do you do for the Independence Day celebration? What you do might well matter on how many days off you have to do something with.

A lot of families head for the lakes on July 4. Many towns and businesses shoot off great displays of fireworks out over a lake for gathered crowds. This makes twice the glare and less than half the chance of a grass fire.

I’m not certain what Nevada plans on doing this year. I certainly understand the expense of a huge fireworks display is overwhelming for many communities and impossible for families or individuals.

As I’ve gotten older my enthusiasm for standing in the heat all afternoon to see fireworks at dusk has dimmed. Slapping mosquitoes and gnats while turning red in the sun is no longer considered a fun time. Even the promise of home-churned ice cream and fresh ripened, ice-covered watermelon no longer inspire me to attend familiar celebrations.

I have found that there are fireworks displays shown on the television where I can sit in my rocker, enjoy my air conditioning and drink iced tea while listening to an orchestra play patriotic songs. I have no small children who might ooh and aah while in the sweating crowd, covered by dripping ice cream with each loud boom and light show. Neither will they cry and scream with fear every time a huge bang rings across the town or seemingly continuous popping sounds are followed by shiny lights which quickly disperse.

Yes, I admit to having become a fireworks Grinch of sorts who no longer enjoys what most consider a good time.

If you are young, or parents of young children, please disregard my hum-bug attitude and go have fun. Just be careful and don’t get burnt or lose a finger or two from indecision while lighting a wick. Remember fireworks are in essence dynamite and just as explosive.

I would also warn you to keep your dogs and cats indoors on the night of the 4th, the afternoon of the 3rd and the entire day of the 5th. There will be odd pops, whistles, smoke bombs, sparklers and firecrackers going off for the entire week in random places at odd times. Pets, whose intelligence is amazing, make it a habit to avoid things that explode, smell like gunpowder and or get thrown at them. Train your children to run and hide whenever the dog or cat does.

We’ve established I don’t care for fireworks, but I do love a good marching band and flags blowing in the breeze. There will surely be parades on television and flags a plenty waving all around town.

Don’t forget, if you see an American flag passing by, put your right hand on your heart and stand until the flag passes you. That is called a citizen’s salute and is the proper way to show respect for the flag and the America it stands for.

No, bending a knee is not any type of tradition as far as flags and national anthems are concerned. People who protest America by ignoring common patriotic practices concerning the American flag and the national anthem should be ignored. If they have a statement to make, let them pay for an advertisement like every other citizen and not use their employers time to vent their political agendas.

Many families go on picnics and some spend the day swimming or flying kites. There are many wonderful children-friendly things to do and places to go. With only one day in the middle of the week to celebrate, lengthy trips are not practical. Still, there are many local places to enjoy. How about a cool afternoon in an air-conditioned theater?

Whatever you decide to do to celebrate our nation’s birthday, be certain to be safe, drink lots of cool water and have fun. Happy Independence Day!