Independence Day

I was thinking today of old-time 4th of July celebrations.  After the family cookout, when it was dark-thirty, we piled the kids in the car and headed downtown for the WBT Skyshow.  Back in the day, hubby worked at LaPointe Chevrolet at Trade and Davidson Street, and we would park the car in the employee parking lot.  The fireworks were shot from the top of the NCNB Building at the corner of Trade and Tryon and we had a perfect view.  Everyone in the parking lot would have their car radios cranked up to WBT AM radio.  The fireworks were synced to patriotic music on their radio station.  We would be rockin' to Neil Diamond's rendition of "Coming to America", or "Born in the USA" by Bruce Springsteen, along with my fourth of July favorite, "Stars and Stripes Forever". 

Our youngest was afraid of the big booms, and I would hold my hands over his ears while sitting on the trunk of our car.  I loved looking up and seeing the beautiful colors and patterns bursting right over our heads.  The finale always ended with what sounded like a barrage of cannon fire and every color of the rainbow.  When it ended you could hear people clapping and cheering all around; then everyone would climb into their cars and fight the bumper-to-bumper traffic to get back home.

As a side-note, our oldest son honeymooned in NYC and said that when he and his bride were on the harbor cruise, "Coming to America" was playing.  He said it brought back memories of his childhood with  Neil Diamond playing on our 8-track tape player.  (All you twenty-somethings and younger can Google that.)

There were years when we had our own home-grown fireworks displays, too.  Since really good fireworks are illegal in North Carolina, and my brother lives in South Carolina, he could purchase them there for the big day.  I would be satisfied with sparklers and firecrackers, but hubby and my brother love the big guns.

However you choose to celebrate Indepence Day 2011, just make sure to create some memories with your family that will last a life-time. 

Copyright 2011 Charlotte Laney