Hello everyone!
I’ve been out of town eight days out of the last two weeks on business and finally got home late Sunday afternoon and was completely wiped out.
All I wanted to do was get something to eat, have a couple of cold beers and plop my butt in my recliner and stare at the television for the remainder of the evening. Fortunately for me, Linda was tired from a busy weekend herself and she was very much in agreement with my way of thinking.
Even though we have 900 channels, there was nothing on that got us excited, so we watched a fairly awful film called “The Grown Ups.” It stars Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock and some other fairly well known comedic actors and actresses.
The film is about five childhood friends who back in 1978, win a CYO basketball championship. Thirty years later, they gather with their families for their coach’s funeral and a weekend at a house on a lake where they used to party.
It just so happens that it’s the Fourth of July weekend and there are all sorts of summer holiday-at-the-lake type stuff going on. Stuff that reminded me of past Independence Days and summers in general.
Now I know this has absolutely nothing to do with emotional affairs and healing from infidelity, but I think that sometimes we need to switch it up a bit and discuss some topics that are more upbeat.
So for our discussion this week, let’s talk about this iconic American summertime holiday…
What are you doing for the 4th of July this year? Please tell us about any travel plans, special events or parties that will be happening.
What are some of your fondest memories from past Independence Days as a kid or young adult?
For all of you who are not from the United States, please tell us about your plans for this summer and your fondest memories of past summers and all of the crazy stuff you used to do (or perhaps still do).
Here’s mine…
When I was a young kid – like 8 or 9 years old – July 4th was all about the fireworks.
One of my fondest memories as a young kid in Toledo, Ohio was riding my bike into Michigan – which was just a couple of miles away – to purchase fireworks. I’d buy mainly firecrackers, smoke bombs, sparklers and Roman candles.
I had to be quite stealthy, as my parents would have ground me big time if they had ever found out. Later, me and a bunch of friends would go back in the woods alongside a creek and light them off and have Roman candle fights.
Later at night my family would go to a lakeside park to watch the official July Fourth fireworks show. They seemed to go on forever. Though it was certainly not as spectacular as fireworks displays tend to be these days, it was awesome enough to me at the time, for sure.
We’re not really doing anything special this year as of yet, other than getting stuff ready for our upcoming trip out west.
But we do look forward to hearing what’s going on with you and to read about some of your memories of Independence Days gone by.
Thanks and have a great holiday!
Linda & Doug
[wlsp_signup]
LINESPACE
27 replies to "Discussion – Your July Fourth and Summertime Memories"
Great story Doug.
I spent a summer working in upstate NY in my final year of university and had a lovely summer seeing everyone rocking up in their RVs and cars for a family get together by the lake (I didn’t know about that beforehand) on 4th July and labour day later on. I had loaned a bike from my landlady and rode everywhere that summer and became known as that crazy english girl who CYCLES. I never saw anyone else cycling and greyhound bus drivers used to wave at me. I don’t think it was in anger…
My landlad’s family were very welcoming and they even recorded my pronunciation of everyday items as they thought it was hilarious (I had a very strong yorkshire accent in those days so it wasn’t even a usual english pronunciation that they found funny).
My lab technician also used to invite me out for lake parties so I’d get to go swimming after work in one of the finger lakes with her and her kids, wow lakes were cold a few feet out, and then pick peaches from her orchard. She also took me on a trip to Cornell and saw far more glass than is ever necessary at the tiffany museum.
it was quite an experience of a summer that year and I rounded it off visiting a friend who was working in Toronto selling frozen yogurt to reluctant ice cream customers before flying home.
Thanks Chiff. Rather ironic you ( A Brit) being in the states celebrating Independence Day don’t you think? 😉
who said I was celebrating it? I was watching you lot celebrating it, which is different. ;-P
LOL! Just messing with you!
Oh Doug, getting all colonial…
I used to send my British now ex bro-in-law a thank you note every 4th of July…for kicks and also because he called Jesus my imaginary friend.
As a kid we used to go to my grandparents on Long Island for two weeks which always included my father’s birthday and 4th of July. I still remember sitting on the docks in Sag Harbor watching fireworks. We’d go back to my grandparents and play with sparklers. My parents were very protective of us so sparklers were a big deal. I really thought I was being very dangerous playing with them. Actually 4th of July with my grandparents is on of my fondest childhood memories. I had crazy boy cousins and coming from a very protective environment I had two weeks of boy type fun!
We are going to Chicago for a long weekend. Plan on going to Navy Pier to watch fireworks, look around at the Shed Aquarium , shop, go out to dinner and just RELAX. Work and personal issues has been way too stressful lately so we are looking forward to getting out of town just the two of us. We like “hiking” around big cities as well as the mountains.
Hey BTW Doug and LInda when does your epic journey start this summer??
I remember when I thought smoke bombs were the coolest thing. Then I upgraded to Roman candles and we got a little crazy.
Great city, Chicago. One of our favorites. Have a blast! (Not sure if a pun was intended there)
We are leaving next Wednesday. By the end of the first day we plan on being somewhere in the great state of Iowa on our way to the Badlands in South Dakota. Can’t wait!
When I was a kid, we’d always fight the crowds for the local fireworks display. As an adult, the past 20 years have been spent at my father-in-laws lake house in Mass. Sitting on the lake, all 3 boats tied together with friends and family. Instead of a pro fireworks display we get a minimum of 3 amateur displays and usually many more. Keep you head on a swivel because they’re going off all around you. Beats a pro display hands down. Every time.
Wouldn’t trade it for anything!
I know what you mean, sometimes those local displays are better than the professional ones. For one thing, you’re up close and personal. And there’s something about buying your own and being the one who gets to light it! (I sound like a pyro)
We did that once years ago. Myself, my brother, 3 brothers-in-law and a friend or two each spend hundreds on fireworks. It was an all day event continuously lighting off fireworks. What a great time!
Pyro….. ;0
Most years, I have to work on July 4th, but this year I have the day off and we are going to Boston for an overnight with a dear friend. We’ll see the fireworks over Boston Harbor and just walk around, maybe visit museums, go have some great seafood, etc. My H and I are both ready for some “city time” for a change from Vermont living.
I hear those fireworks over the harbor are awesome. Have a great time!
Lynsey, I’m a few miles outside of Worchester. I’m looking towards Boston and sending a shout out your way. Have a great time!
Thanks overwhelmed. Hadn’t been to Boston in years, and never to the fireworks. They were amazing. Been following your story. Hope things at the lake are going well this weekend.
My childhood 4th celebrations were the stuff made for movies. Our family owned a cottage on a lake in NC. Not one of these mansion cottages you see now as summer homes, but a classic of Americana. It had 2 BRs, 1 BA, a great room with a screened in porch across the front and a dock. It was a colorful hodgepodge of furniture and accessories. Every bit of it was built by my grandparents, uncles, older cousins, parents and us kids. About 25 of us would spend the entire week of the 4th swimming, skiing, boat riding, swinging, hiking all with 1 bathrm. We bunked everywhere…the porch was the preferred location because of course there was no AC.
It was bliss as a kid. My mom would buy us all kids of junk food she wouldn’t let us have any other time, our fav being the cheese in a can. We took baths in the lake, peed behind trees and ate marshmellows around a bonfire every night until our stomachs bloated. It was a child’s dream!!!!
The fireworks were pitiful by today’s standards because it was a bunch of people on the end of their docks with sparklers and Roman candles. But the entire experience was classic and priceless. It truly was a made for movie adventure.
Btw-Thanks Doug for this post. July 4th is D-day for me and this will be my 3rd yr out. This post just change my entire outlook!!!
That sounds really wonderful. I know it’s cliche and all but weren’t things just so much simpler back then? I say back then, as for me it was the late sixties and early seventies. We had 3 TV channels, no video games or nothing, so we had to make our own fun. We were quite successful at that, I do believe.
I have to agree. I do miss the simpleness of life back then as well as the effort to be creative with our entertainment.
I consider myself lucky every fourth. Being from a military family, I usually watch fireworks from wherever we are stationed. The opportunity gave me an experience that few get. Every state, town, base has a different celebration complete with their own version of foods, games, fun and of course fireworks. Although it is always exciting, my most memorable fourth was the first time we didn’t go to them. In 1973 my father could not take us because he had just come home from Vietnam and the loud bangs were much too much for him… To close for comfort to him. It was sad and upsetting for the whole family. As I look back at it now, I can appreciate what he went through and feel saddened that I did not grasp why he couldn’t go.
Happy fourth to you all!
Hey Battle born
I’m an Army Brat too!! It was a great life. I am so proud of my father’s service in the military. He served in three wars. It’s funny how our life experiences gives us a new perspective. Your Dad had PTSD although back then it wasn’t diagnosed. Most of those Vets suffered in silence and alone (hmmm sounds familiar doesn’t it?)
My Dad was in the infantry as a young officer in WWII, he had terrible tinnitus and later in life lost a lot of his hearing. The military refused to pay for his hearing aids. My father certainly set the standard for selfless behavior and he was 100% devoted to my mother for 56 years. They are both gone now and there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think of them and keep the gratitude in my heart for being raised by these wonderful parents. My military upbringing as well as my mother’s strong character, I think is what has given me the strength to face all this “unfairness” that life has handed to me.
I hope you all had a wonderful time with the celebrations.
Sounds hilarious. As a girl from Down Under, your summer plans bring a smile, and nostalgia. We do fireworks on Guy Fawkes – as the English do, in autumn, with Bonfire Night – early November, so late spring, less fire risk! In my youth, we had access to all kinds of incredible fireworks, sky rockets, catherine wheels, Double Happies (giant, extra powerful crackers.) Now, with the PC police (thank God, as a parent, lol) we can only buy pretty tame, overpriced Roman Candles, sparklers, etc, for three days beforehand, and none after (we used to buy up large after the day. stockpiling for New Years’ and next year! At bargain prices 🙂 Our summer memories are mostly of beaches, in baches (holiday homes) somewhat like FCOL’s place, home-built, small shelters that somehow managed to sleep 50 (bunk rooms, lots of tents and caravans on the front and back lawn, if you were “rich,” you could sleep in a flash boat on a trailer, lol – lawn being an ambitious concept.) Sunburn, freckles, surfing, junk food (treats only for summer, birthday parties and maybe Christmas.) With Christmas and New Year falling in the summer, the country shut down for a month, and everyone went to the beach – or maybe lake – and chilled/partied, whatever phase you were up to! Fashion faux pas aplenty, seeing your Grandma in a towelling boob tube was enough to put most young boys off sex for a few more summers!
Third year, FCOL, it is getting further away, but never to be forgotten, hug to you.
Happy fourth to all of you from the US! (From the evening of the 5th Down Under!)
Thanks for the hug Paula. I never thought I would still be dealing with this mess this far out. A few other life traumas got in the way of recovery but I think I finally have a clear perspective of myself and my future.
I loved your towel boob tube line. My H’s aunt wears one, it’s hysterical!
FCOL. I am over four years out, and ditto! I knew it was forever the night I found out, as you cannot undo any of it, but I didn’t anticipate how long the intensity of searing pain would last, and in my case I had a CS who did almost everything right, from the beginning, I thought that, at least, would help me heal. I am living a “better life” but I am not better, never will be to the point I would like to be, accepting that reality has been the toughest part of my journey.
Paula
You don’t know how often I think of you. I am in the second year and yes my H is doing everything right too but as you say it can’t be undone and it can’t be unsaid. I feel sad that you two tried but ended in divorce anyway. I’m afraid that will happen to me. It seems that the least little wave sends me to the point of thinking about divorcing him. When all is calm, it’s good, but the slightest blip makes me want to call my lawyer and scream, it’s back on!!! My son and his wife had similar problems in 07 and tried to reconcile. Alas one child and 6 years later they are divorcing. I think she forever felt ashamed and guilty about her choices. It was just too much for her. I feel sorry for her. She hasn’t had any contact with any of the family since she left in April. I worry about the future and what is really going to happen but hey I could get hit by a bus today too! Today I am not divorcing him. That is as good a commitment as I can give right now. Literally One. Day. At. A. Time!
I hope you are doing well and are at peace with your decision to be without you H. I’m sure you still love him but sometimes that isn’t enough. I get it sister.
Loved hearing about the Aussie “4th of July”.
Paula, another from down under here. Good to see, I guess, someone else from the old land of oz. Not so left out now. Lol
Strengthrequired, close, NZ – Aussie mum though! There have been a few of us on this site over the years, sadly. Unfortunately, this crap crosses all social, political, religious, cultural, racial, gender, sexual orientation, etc, etc, etc, boundaries.