Yesterday’s July 4th was a good day. I got up early to stand in line at the farmers market for sour cherries (I get more than a little excited when it’s cherry pie-making time). By the time I got home, Chris had loaded up the truck with the canoe, paddle board, and kayak, and our sleepy-headed teens were beginning to emerge from their lairs. In under an hour, we were on our way to Mason Neck for a day on the water. The water was surprising clear, due to the abundance of invasive hydrilla, which does an excellent job of filtering the water. The highlight of the day for the kids was paddling a good way out from the shore and taking turns dumping each other off the paddle board.
We stopped at a fireworks stand on the way home, where I picked out brightly colored packages with enticing names like “Fireflies Surprise” and “Shazam.” I couldn’t resist the extremely low-key snakes, which we took great pleasure in smooshing with our fingers when I was a kid. I never pass up a box or two of snakes on the 4th.
After a dinner of skillet potatoes, crab cakes, and mufaletta salad, I mixed up a couple of Old Fashioned cocktails, and we teamed up for a family game of ladder ball (Maxine and I won). Just before darkness fell, we headed out the front door and lined up all the fireworks in the street. Maxine’s friend biked down the hill to witness the display, and just as we were lighting the first fuse, a couple of moms happened upon us with five very excited children, all between the ages of about three and six. They stayed safely across the street and squealed with excitement with every pop and shower of sparks. They critiqued each one, usually very generously. We saved the second “Fireflies Surprise” for last (everything was buy one, get one free, so I was able to determine which one was best for the grand finale). Once the last spark died on the asphalt, the moms began to usher the kids along their way, but not before each little voice cried out a cheerful “thank you!”
Though we weren’t able to gather with a big group for a party, I’d say this year’s fourth was pretty darn good.
My Corner of the Village 