Tradition. I can't say (or type) that word without a musical refrain from Fiddler on the Roof popping up in my brain (if you've seen it, you know what I'm talking about).
Our 4th of July is full of them.
Every year the extended family congregates at my parents house. We swim in the afternoon, eat dinner in the barn and stay for fireworks. At some point the boys head out to the field to play baseball with a tennis ball (after all, it's tradition).
The fireworks show is provided by a local lake which we can see from my parents home. We all climb up on the roof of the house (at least the younger members of the family do) for a better view, and belt out patriotic songs as the fireworks fill the sky.
And, every year we have a few traditional conversations.
Before the fireworks actually start we worry that the trees have grown too high (between us and the lake) and we won't be able to see the fireworks.
And
During the fireworks we always think the "grand finale" has just happened. Words like "Oh, this has to be the grand finale." are heard only to be answered back with more fireworks.
Some things never get old - 4th of July traditions being one of them!
I hope you all had a Happy 4th! What are some of your favorite traditions?
8 comments:
Megan, I actually have a vague memory sitting on top of your parent's roof watching fireworks one year! I thought it was so great - it must have been when the trees were short because I don't remember having that conversation. :)
Sounds like a good time! We had to work, so unfortunately, they woke us up!
happy 4th to you!
xo ~K
I love traditions! and yours sounds like a fun one!
Since the 4th is my husband's birthday, we have several traditions (all involving fireworks and banana pudding - my husband thinks the whole country celebrates just for him). We used to have a tradition of going to the mountians in NC and stopping at this particular scenic overlook to watch fireworks from 2 or 3 towns in the valley all at the same time.
This year (now that we live in TN), we went to his parent's time share in Pigeon Forge. We got to watch a great fireworks display from the stairwell! Now that we know where to look for them, we might find a more comfortable place to be next year...
But the mountains are definitely the place to be for us!
Sam @ theListenerspost.
I love this post. I feel like I'm on the roof with you! Actually, I wish I had been on the roof with you. Our family fourth tradition kind of fizzled out when we moved from my home town. Which was like, 20 years ago so now you know how lonely and festive free my fourth of july's have been. I always want them to be like your is. I think I'm going to have to start coming up with some traditions. (And yes, I'm hearing the song right. now.)
This doesn't qualify as a tradition...but it's happened to both Ellie and I (when I was her age too), but we both had burning, still glowing red-hot firework embers land on our legs! I guess we should start a tradition of sitting a little farther back. :)
I don't technically know what an "ember" is...I think I meant "ashes," but maybe they're the same thing. ha ha ha
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