Ghosts of July 4ths Past

Happy Independence Day!

Off the top of my head, some memories of July 4ths past:

1) The early 1970s as a kid at Aunt Hope’s on the West Side (KCMO). The Rivera clan must’ve spent hundreds and hundreds of dollars on fireworks.  The displays could rival any small town’s today… AND we got to light them ourselves.  I remember lighting fuses and running away for all I was worth.  My favorites were the ones that shot up and opened into paper parachutes with little army men hanging down.  I loved chasing after them as they floated down to earth.  And the little whizzy ones that spun around on the ground, swirling and twirling until they reincarnated into a paper pagoda or paper flower.

And that horrible yet wouldn’t-be-the-4th-without-it smell of snakes: aspirin-shaped chunks of coal stuff that hissed and puffed up into, well, snakes of ash.  And of course sparklers.

2) July 4, 1986. NY. ‘Nuff said. Well, I will also mention dinner at Hop Kee in Chinatown (lobster with black bean sauce) was part of the day.

3) Half Moon Bay with Morgan, David, and Gary at Nina’s. Walked to the beach to see the fireworks; I carried Gary on my back as strangers snickered.

4) Oakland A’s game with Tim, Bill, Geoff, Yoko… there must’ve been others.  Went not so much for the game, but to have beer and hot dogs.  Afterward, everyone headed back to our place for an impromptu bbq. Bill suggested croquet, as if everyone just has a croquet set lying around.  He and I immediately dashed off to Target down the street, picked one up, and set it up in the backyard.  A new addiction was born.  (However, we play with rogue rules.)

5) Eating at a pub in London.  The irony.

Today’s July 4th started off with happy Independence Day wishes from Geoff accompanied by this wonderful treat.

This year is Sofia’s first July 4th.  We totally plan to take her to see fireworks.  I wonder how the Ghosts of July 4ths Future will look.

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