Celebrating the 4th.

Today is the day Americans celebrate our independence and freedom.  I have great memories of 4th of July celebrations as a kid.  For me the day started out  at our annual church picnic held at Tuthill Park, in Sioux Falls, SD.  Our church would rent the pavillion on the upper level of the park each year and everyone who attended our small church would gather at the park with loads of food to set out on tables for everyone to share.  We would put several picnic tables together and cover them with table cloths.  Everyone would then place their casseroles, salads and desserts in order down the line until the tables were full of delicious home-cooked food.  There would be fried chicken, baked beans, scalloped potatoes, 7-layer salad, potato salads,  jello salads, and tons of desserts; such as apple pie, chocolate cake and chocoate chip cookies...all made with love from the members of our congregation.  What a feast this was!  I can still see the abundance of this smorgasborg in my mind and it makes me hungry just thinking about it.

After endulging in this amazing feast we would then gather for games.  The adults enjoyed a game of softball which was a favorite of my dad and my sister, Thurza.  I was not much of a fan, but would play on a team regardless. 

There were also games for the kids.  I remember water balloon fights, gunny sack races, and relay races that ended in prizes for the winning teams.    Free time was spent walking the 'indian trails' along the banks of the Big Sioux River in Tuthill Park.  I loved walking these trails because it was shady and cool under the trees along the river and I enjoyed the feeling of being in the same wilderness setting where I envisioned native Americans once walking. 

The 4th of July was always hot and humid.  After the picnic was over my brother, sisters and I would beg our parents to be able to go to the lake for a swim.  My dad was not a fan of nature as we were, so we didn't always get our wish, but sometimes we would.  There was nothing like jumping into a  lake to cool off after a long hot day in the sun.

Evenings on the 4th of July always meant watching fireworks.  My favorite celebrations were spent at my cousin's house out in the country where my Uncle Mel would have a fine selection of fireworks that he would set off after dark.  Everyone loved sitting in lawn chairs and watching the colorful display as it lit up the evening sky.  The kids were given sparklers and smoke bombs to set off, and my brother would get into bottle rocket fights with his friends.  Greg was the dare-devil of the family, but has managed to survive thus far.  I was not a fan of the loud firecrackers, but the boys and men in the family seemed to like those best.  Even my dad would enjoy setting off a package or two of Black Cats.

Yes, Indepedence Day is full of tradition.  It's a time to gather with family and friends and enjoy the day outdoors.   This tradition still lives on in my memory as if it were only yesterday.

 Happy 4th of July everyone!