A Fabulous Fourth!
What a fabulous weekend I’ve just had! How about you? Every year I so look forward to the 4th of July, and I have my dear friend Stephanie to thank for that. Celebrating the 4th as a child in Iowa City’s City Park is a tough act to follow, but I dare say my now grow-up ritual of spending it at Stephanie’s is making it just as special.
Ahhh, City Park. Every year we’d head down to the park early in the day, armed with our blankets, chairs, snacks, sparklers, and OF COURSE a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken, complete with the cole slaw and potato salad that simply MUST accompany. We’d usually spend the day with friends and neighbors, camped out on the grass playing on the equipment, tossing frisbees, riding rides (they actually had some rides at the park then…ferris wheel, merry-go-round, and the like) and swimming in the city pool for hours. As it started to get dark we’d pack up and make our way to the field with everyone else to get ready for the fireworks show. Sometimes my sisters would bring their boyfriends. I lit sparklers every year even though they secretly really scared me. I remember never wanting the fireworks show to end. I never wanted the DAY to end! Even the random soul-shaking BOOMS that would erupt out of nowhere throughout the day giving me a small heart attack each time couldn’t have kept me away.