Fourth of July weekend, beaches, picnics, bar-b-q's, and fireworks, oh, and let us not forget an extra day off from work! These are the thoughts that conjure up in our mind when we think of the 4th of July.
A Memory:
When I think back on my 4th of July memories the first memory that comes to mind was growing up in Hicksville, in the all to familiar Levitt house, the first suburban neighborhoods. On the 4th of July the parents would all get together at one of the houses on the block. More often then not, it was usually dad heading the party along with Herb. I seem to remember lots of beer, and laughter, and hot-dogs. The parents were all good about handing us change to "go play in the traffic" as kids were kindly told! We use to run up to the local deli, pool our money and buy "soap-free" Brillo rolls. We "cleaned" out the store every year (no pun intended)! We would rush home to raid the closets in the house and find the best wire hangers. Then we would unwind the neck of the hanger so it became one long wire. Then very carefully you unrolled one of the Brillo rolls and carefully wove it onto the end of the wire, making a hook at the end so it would not slip off. NEXT YOU LIT IT!! Yes, we also played with matches! You would then spin that wire as fast as you could in a circular motion, flecks of hot steel wool falling and burning your arms, and neck, and hair, but you just kept on spinning, if you were able to hit the ground - just a little you got an extra ground display! All the time the parents would be cheering us on for the best fire circle! I have to sit back and laugh now when I think about it. I just met up with some friends I grew up with and one of the conversations was the 4th and the Brillo rolls! Even as adults we laugh about it still. I think I need to try this and take a picture this year!!
On to an Oddity:
A strange oddity for the 4th of July ...three of the first five American presidents –John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Monroe – all died on Independence Day (Jul. 4). Even stranger: Adams and Jefferson died on the same exact day – July 4, 1826 – precisely 50 years to the date after they both signed the Declaration Of Independence. Also the fourth president, Zachary Taylor, got sick and died from Cholera just five days after attending July 4, 1850, festivities under the hot sun in Washington, D.C. It seems three of our presidents celebrated the 4th by dying on it and celebrating it killed a fourth during the first 60 years of our nation. Hey I think its a great trivia question!!
A Flag:
The flag in this picture was flown over the United States Capital in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 15, 2000, at the request of Honorable Charles Schumer, United States Senator. This flag was flown in honor of my daughter Jodi who passed away in 1997. It was then sent to me. I think Jodi would happy to have her flag hung outside this week-end outside the home that she grew up in.
The Declaration Of Independence:
And Finally The Declaration Of Independence, this is a great little clip ... and I have a question, have you ever read it??? Well listen to this and you can at least say you have heard it!
Have a safe and happy 4th of July!
2 comments:
happy 4th of July to you all too.. We are going down town tomorrow evening for a few hours and then the fireworks and them home to light off the ones we bought today.. We could only get a few dollars worth but its enough to say thank you to our troops in our own special way for our freeedom..
Hope you had a great 4th! We got back late from a weekend getaway. I'm taking the 5th off to work on the house. There's always something to do in an old house isn't there?
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