Being Boring

We did absolutely nothing traditional this 4th of July.

I got up yesterday morning expecting to rush to the parade, arms loaded with collapsible chairs, sunscreen, and water bottles. But when I started getting ready, the girls came to me and asked if we could stay home this year. I was pleasantly surprised. I didn't really want to go sit in the sun and wait while being passed by politicians, car dealers, horses (and their droppings), bad school bands and choral groups, tumblers, beauty queens, clowns, peddlers, and on and on--all for the promise of a bit of candy hucked at my kids and possibly a water gun's cooling spray, if I got lucky. So we stayed home, and Ben and I instead prepared a roast dinner and strawberry pastries for dessert. No watermelon. No corn on the cob. No burgers or dogs. No popsicles. We were breaking all the rules! All afternoon I resisted watching TV or movies. A few people dropped by and we visited for a bit. The kids (and Ben) played on their computers and with their friends while I cleaned and organized the house inside and out. By the time it got dark, I thought we would jump in the car and go search out a good site for viewing the big fireworks. But when the magic hour came, the kids peered only half-interestedly out at the valley from our back porch and then wandered back to their rooms where they crawled in bed and fell asleep to a movie. Not a peep about going to see the fireworks. Hmmmm. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing. But we sure got the relaxing part down!

Comments

[Jeanna]

We did everything by-the-book for the 4th. We started the day with real live cannon fire. My son and husband did the raising of the flag ceremony. We had a giant community breakfast, and then played the usual kid games complete with washable red, white, and blue firecracker and flag tatoos. We played softball all day long (and our family team won the Championship...again). It was overcast and gorgeous...no sunburns or heat exhaustion. We ate ice cream cones, pizza, burgers, hot dogs, sodas, and pot luck salads and desserts. I even bought a ticket for the patriotic quilt raffle and we purchased a paver with our name on it for the pavillion improvement plan this year. We had a round-the-block kids parade, too. Three of the older guys even did a synchronized lawn mower routine in it, which was hysterical! We had a patriotic program which did much to remind us all of our blessings and the sacrafices of others for our freedoms. Then we ended with a fantastic small-town firework display (which even my youngest enjoyed this year instead of hiding in the car.) I sure love my small town and my big country. Maybe you can join us next year!! I'm sure it will be the same thing.

[Janet Taylor]

This sounds like a great way to spend the holiday. Cheers for the JBma Taylor crew!

[Sherron]

Thanks for letting my boys come and be boring with you. It was far more entertainment than he received over here!