250
I wasn't sure. Certainly I haven't been feeling my most patriotic of late. We've even flown our flag upside down as a way of expressing our dismay. But still. Tradition is tradition.
Our little town Near Philadelphia is well-known in the area for being patriotic. Our annual Fourth of July celebration, we believe, is unequaled anywhere. Our sons who live in another state make the trek home every year, indoctrinating their own sons and daughter to the celebration.
It begins, as I've blogged before, with the children's program, where there are the traditional foot races as well as decorated bicycle and stroller competitions. The parade is in the late afternoon, but Andrew gets up around sunrise to claim a viewing spot on the old school grounds. The fireworks start around 8:30 or so, and in between the end of the parade and the start of the pyrotechnics, we host a major picnic. We've been doing this for 26 years, now, and people know what to bring and -- for the most part -- what to expect (Don't tell anybody, but this year Himself has painted a pickleball court on our back driveway!)
This year, though, we've not really been feeling it. In addition to the general angst of our country, Joe and I have had a really difficult year personally, and so we've scaled back. There won't be as many people here as usual (about half of 'em coming from Virginia, however); we just needed a bit of a low-key affair. Often I make a couple of extra things for the buffet; this year I just wasn't thinking about it a whole lot.
Until this morning. And, of all things, Facebook to the rescue!
Because my feed a couple of hours ago shared a post from the local library. And they were featuring a whole bunch of 250th birthday cards drawn and colored by our elementary school students. I looked at every one. And was surprised by the tears that came into my eyes. The hope of these kids, that made the difference.
And now I'm feeling it.
The likes of Donald Trump, J.D. Vance, and Mitch McConnell aren't going to ruin our celebration. Mike Johnson and Robert Kennedy aren't going to rain on our parade. Our country has gone through terrible times before (in particular 1/20/17 through 1/20/21) and come back. We'll do it again.
So our peeps may or may not get to the children's program this year, as the youngest grandchild (already) is thirteen! But Andrew will greet the dawn and claim the spot, Susie will make the pasta-broccoli concoction that everyone loves, Marsha will devil the eggs yet again, and Himself will cook the brats/breasts/burgers like always. Me, well, I'm getting the ingredients for baked lima beans to round out the buffet. And making some cupcakes with red, white and blue sprinkles.
And, as always, before we eat we'll all go out onto the deck and sing -- at the top of our voices and each in her-or-his own key -- God Bless America, because we need that now, perhaps more than ever.
Comments