July already?

It seems this summer is passing me by! I can't believe it's already the Fourth of July weekend! I confess this is my favorite time of the year and this weekend is probably my second favorite holiday. The first is Christmas, of course.

What's to like about this holiday?

1. The Kenosha Civic Vets Parade - I have attended this parade every year since I was born. There've been some good years and some not so good year, in terms of parade attractions. There used to be way more clowns...which I hate. But they were also kind of fun...especially the one in the bathtub that rode around and would douse us with cold water. That was refreshing after sitting out in the hot sun all day waiting for the parade to start. I love the bands. When I was a kid I had friends who marched in the local bands. Now I have nieces and nephews who march in them. I always make a fool out of myself screaming their names as they march past. There used to be those great Kiwanis peanuts but they don't sell those anymore. But there are still cool and useless things to buy and I always do! Last year, it was a funny hat. The year before it was a blow up Superman thing. We get out there early, about 8am, and sit there all day until the parade starts at 2pm. We get McDonald's food and eat Twizzlers and drink copious amounts of water and slather on layers of sunscreen and we laugh and have a great time. I highly recommend it.

2. Our annual July Fourth back yard party. For the past couple of years it's been at my niece's home across the street from mine. We all bring food, sit around, do crazy things, play silly games, drink loads of beer and just generally have a good time. It ends with us walking up the street to sit on the rocky shore of Lake Michigan to watch the fireworks. That brings me to...

3. The fireworks - Now when I was a kid our fireworks used to be down on Simmons Island. We'd stake a spot on the grassy hill and ooh and awww as they shot out bursts of spectacular light over the lake. We'd listen to patriotic music as played by the Kenosha Pops and there was always some chick twirling flaming batons just before they started the big show. Then one year there was a terrible accident. The stand the fireworks were connected to tipped over toward the crowd just as they went off and those beautiful bursts of sparkly light became horrible shots of hot sparkling flames that shot directly into the crowd! That was the end of that. Now they shoot them off the North pier, far away from crowds. We can still see them and ooh and awww but it's never really been the same.

4. Sparklers and snakes - As a kid, we always had sparklers for after the fireworks. And snakes, those little pellets you light that cause an acrid stench of yellow smoke but squirm out into a long, black snake pattern before going out. These were the only two things we ever got. Now, in my neighborhood, there is a constant blast of bottle rockets and M-80s long after the "official" fireworks are over. Supposedly it's illegal to have this stuff in Kenosha but the police mostly turn a blind eye and it goes on all night.

The sad part comes in knowing that once it's all over the summer is waning and the end is near. But I won't think about that now. For now, I'm thinking about funnel cakes, brats, and beers! Happy Fourth everyone!