4Th of July

hoppy · Post by **hoppy** » Wed Jun 30, 2010 5:07 am

Big American holiday coming up. Any Americans here celebrating with cookouts and fireworks? One July 4Th of my childhood stands out in my memory.

July 4th was pretty much like any other summer day on our farm. Lots of chores and field work. We didn't do anything in the way of celebrating. But, when I was eleven dad said if big brother Ike would take us kids, we could go into town and watch the parade. Ike was quick to agree, so sister Angel, lil' brother Daryl and I boarded Ike's old Dodge pickup and off to town we went.

Ike parked almost in front of a place called 'happy Times' on the town square. He gave me a wad of bills and instructed us after the parade to wander around the town square park. There was food for sale and stuff going on. He would be right here in 'happy Times' when we were ready to go home.

We waited by the truck until the parade went by. The parade was fun to see. A group of men in uniforms carrying rifles headed the parade, with a soldier carrying a pole with the flag waving in the breeze. Then came a few tractors pulling hay wagons with boy scouts, girl scouts, a church float promoting peace, some antique cars, fire truck, a police car, some nice horses with riders or pulling carriages and kids on bicycles decorated with paper streamers and flags.

Daryl had to pee so we went over to Happy Times so he could use the restroom. Ike was busy with a gal named Ruthy and hardly noticed us. Then we wandered over to the park. I payed for three bottles of Coke, fished out of a big tub of water with chunks of ice floating in it. Angel and Daryl wanted a hot dog so we each got one to our liking. Mine was heaped with sauerkraut. There was a band in the bandstand playing patriotic music, loud and bad, games and craft stuff. As we wandered about we stopped to talk to people we knew. Every so often a firecracker would go off. Daryl was getting a big kick out of the goings on. His eyes were big as half dollars. Two big kids walked by. Actually they were more like young adults. I paid them no mind but Angel was watching them. One of them tossed something over his shoulder and a second later 'BANG'.

Instantly Daryl let out a scream and started bawling his eyes out. He held up his left hand. I saw a nasty looking gash with a shiny sliver sticking out, blood running down his arm. We hustled over to the Happy Times fast as we could, Daryl wailing like a siren. Ruthy Immediately took over, ushering Daryl into the restroom to clean and bandage his wound. Luckily, this bar had a pretty complete first aid kit. When they came out, Daryl was much more calm and was enjoying the attention Ruthy was showering him with. Ruthy gave Ike a rather large piece of glass from a pop bottle. It had gone in a good ways. Ruthy told Ike Daryl should maybe get a shot. We boarded Ike's pickup and drove slowly around town to see if Angel could spot the two punks. No luck, so we went home.

For some time after that, whenever Ike had to go to town on an errand, Daryl would beg to go along and visit Ruthy. I think the little snot had his first crush. And that was our July 4th in 1951.

Clodhopper · Post by **Clodhopper** » Wed Jun 30, 2010 5:41 am

Interesting story. Gave me a real feel of small-town America back then. You must have a very visual and intense memory! Thanks. Best wishes to you all for the 4th of July.

hoppy · Post by **hoppy** » Wed Jun 30, 2010 6:14 am

Clodhopper;1319895 wrote: Interesting story. Gave me a real feel of small-town America back then. You must have a very visual and intense memory! Thanks. Best wishes to you all for the 4th of July.

People tell me I live in the past too much. I looked at my future. I like my past better.

YZGI · Post by **YZGI** » Wed Jun 30, 2010 6:39 am

I have a fish fry every 4th. This will be about 20 in a row. Puts a lot of pressure on me at the start of spring to catch enough fish for the fry, but also gives me a reason to be fishing all the time. :sneaky: This years fry will have walleye and wiper. Oh and beer.

cars · Post by **cars** » Wed Jun 30, 2010 7:06 am

Great story hoppy, sometime's it's too bad we have to grow up!

(Well, getting older anyway, growing up is not always manditory!) :p

ZAP · Post by **ZAP** » Wed Jun 30, 2010 8:23 am

Very nice story, Hoppy. I remember the tubs of ice holding "pop" but not Coke-we had Nesbits orange & grape & some root beer. My dad always got firecrackers for us. It was a big deal to go to the fireworks stand & look at all the stuff they had. One of my brothers put a lit punk in his pocket, where it found its way to the bunch of lady fingers and set them on fire. Blasted the pocket out of his shirt! We still laugh about that when we tell our "Poor" stories.

hoppy · Post by **hoppy** » Wed Jun 30, 2010 9:05 am

YZGI;1319911 wrote: I have a fish fry every 4th. This will be about 20 in a row. Puts a lot of pressure on me at the start of spring to catch enough fish for the fry, but also gives me a reason to be fishing all the time. :sneaky: This years fry will have walleye and wiper. Oh and beer.

We should talk fishing sometime. Useta do my share of that in better days. I bet you got some fishing stories.

Odie · Post by **Odie** » Wed Jun 30, 2010 9:26 am

hoppy;1319889 wrote: Big American holiday coming up. Any Americans here celebrating with cookouts and fireworks? One July 4Th of my childhood stands out in my memory.

July 4th was pretty much like any other summer day on our farm. Lots of chores and field work. We didn't do anything in the way of celebrating. But, when I was eleven dad said if big brother Ike would take us kids, we could go into town and watch the parade. Ike was quick to agree, so sister Angel, lil' brother Daryl and I boarded Ike's old Dodge pickup and off to town we went.

Ike parked almost in front of a place called 'happy Times' on the town square. He gave me a wad of bills and instructed us after the parade to wander around the town square park. There was food for sale and stuff going on. He would be right here in 'happy Times' when we were ready to go home.

We waited by the truck until the parade went by. The parade was fun to see. A group of men in uniforms carrying rifles headed the parade, with a soldier carrying a pole with the flag waving in the breeze. Then came a few tractors pulling hay wagons with boy scouts, girl scouts, a church float promoting peace, some antique cars, fire truck, a police car, some nice horses with riders or pulling carriages and kids on bicycles decorated with paper streamers and flags.

Daryl had to pee so we went over to Happy Times so he could use the restroom. Ike was busy with a gal named Ruthy and hardly noticed us. Then we wandered over to the park. I payed for three bottles of Coke, fished out of a big tub of water with chunks of ice floating in it. Angel and Daryl wanted a hot dog so we each got one to our liking. Mine was heaped with sauerkraut. There was a band in the bandstand playing patriotic music, loud and bad, games and craft stuff. As we wandered about we stopped to talk to people we knew. Every so often a firecracker would go off. Daryl was getting a big kick out of the goings on. His eyes were big as half dollars. Two big kids walked by. Actually they were more like young adults. I paid them no mind but Angel was watching them. One of them tossed something over his shoulder and a second later 'BANG'.

Instantly Daryl let out a scream and started bawling his eyes out. He held up his left hand. I saw a nasty looking gash with a shiny sliver sticking out, blood running down his arm. We hustled over to the Happy Times fast as we could, Daryl wailing like a siren. Ruthy Immediately took over, ushering Daryl into the restroom to clean and bandage his wound. Luckily, this bar had a pretty complete first aid kit. When they came out, Daryl was much more calm and was enjoying the attention Ruthy was showering him with. Ruthy gave Ike a rather large piece of glass from a pop bottle. It had gone in a good ways. Ruthy told Ike Daryl should maybe get a shot. We boarded Ike's pickup and drove slowly around town to see if Angel could spot the two punks. No luck, so we went home.

For some time after that, whenever Ike had to go to town on an errand, Daryl would beg to go along and visit Ruthy. I think the little snot had his first crush. And that was our July 4th in 1951.

Sounds like had a really great time, poor Daryl.:-3

Happy 4th of July hoppy!::-4

Attached files

Lon · Post by **Lon** » Wed Jun 30, 2010 9:28 am

hoppy;1319903 wrote: People tell me I live in the past too much. I looked at my future. I like my past better.

Ya gotta adjust and adapt Hoppy, cause the future is where we will be spending the rest of our life.

YZGI · Post by **YZGI** » Wed Jun 30, 2010 9:51 am

hoppy;1319931 wrote: We should talk fishing sometime. Useta do my share of that in better days. I bet you got some fishing stories.

Sounds good Hoppy, I do a lot of fishing.

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Wed Jun 30, 2010 10:32 am

Lots of fun over the years. My grandfather made the big fireworks, the rockets. Miss that.

My younger brother was always loosing his cool rockets-once a glorious space shuttle-in washes and creeks-cops always stopped us from retrieving them, took along time to make!

along-for-the-ride · Post by **along-for-the-ride** » Wed Jun 30, 2010 11:20 am

At work (the poultry plant) tomorrow, we have our free 4th of July Bar-b-que chicken dinner. We won't get a day off, but we will get holiday pay for Sunday, the actual 4th of July.

Images of the 4th for me; hot, hazy weather, alot of red, white and blue clothing, watermelon, hamburgers and hotdogs and potato salad, and fireworks.

Kathy Ellen · Post by **Kathy Ellen** » Wed Jun 30, 2010 12:35 pm

Oh, I loved your story Hoppy. Thanks for sharing:-6

Yes, my family is coming 'down the shore' tomorrow for the weekend and then some. We'll have a great time bbq'ing, ordering from the Italian restaurant next door (good food) going to the boardwalk for 'junk food' taking long walks along the beach and bay, riding bikes, and of course going to the beach and playing games at night.

Can't wait...

Bridget · Post by **Bridget** » Wed Jun 30, 2010 1:03 pm

Hoppy. really enjoyed your 4th of July story. It sounds like it could have been written by a mid-westeneer as that is pretty much how it played out around here back in the fifties. The Lions club always were the ones who made sure it happened and still do. Hoppy I don't think you are living in the past but it was so much darn fun even with Daryl hurt we just want to remember it. Will read any more stories you might have.

Kathy Ellen · Post by **Kathy Ellen** » Wed Jun 30, 2010 1:13 pm

Here's some fireworks from the USA.....Couldn't download picture...:-1

hoppy · Post by **hoppy** » Wed Jun 30, 2010 1:36 pm

I forgot to mention, in case this story sounds familiar to anyone. I wrote it and posted it on two other forums in the past two years. I got a million memories like this. Remembering is about all I can do these days. Thank you all for the comments.

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Wed Jun 30, 2010 4:18 pm

Good memories they are I have many like yours as well, be glad you can remember the alternative is not so much fun. HAPPY 4TH OF JULY..!!

AussiePam · Post by **AussiePam** » Wed Jun 30, 2010 6:25 pm

It's 1 July here today - where has this year gone?!! Anyway - Happy 4 July to all American ForumGardeners!!!

Odie · Post by **Odie** » Wed Jun 30, 2010 7:05 pm

along-for-the-ride;1319973 wrote: At work (the poultry plant) tomorrow, we have our free 4th of July Bar-b-que chicken dinner. We won't get a day off, but we will get holiday pay for Sunday, the actual 4th of July.

Images of the 4th for me; hot, hazy weather, alot of red, white and blue clothing, watermelon, hamburgers and hotdogs and potato salad, and fireworks.

Oh that does sound like so much fun!:-6

We celebrate Canada Day tomorrow as its Canada's birthday.

I remember the parade and the fireworks always got me so excited!:guitarist