As I was walking across the parking lot to my car after a late nite trip to Borders yesterday, it suddenly dawned on me that there was a definite 4th of July ambiance  in the air.  There weren't a lot of fireworks in the background, or a lot of party noises, just a happy, fun, celebratory feeling  I guess.   Hard to explain really, not the same feeling as one gets at Christmas time exactly, but along the same lines maybe. 

Or maybe I just noticed it so much becuz I haven't been caught up in a holiday- happy feeling for a few years, & was struck by the sudden, tho brief, feeling of excitement.  I had to stop & take it all in for a moment or two before getting into my car to head home.

It made me think about the loud, boisterous, fun & happy 4th of Julys of my past, spent with lots of family, friends, fireworks & great food     But the good feeling those memories brought soon gave way to other, sadder feelings.  The knowledge that those days are gone. 

Life goes on & things change ... I know, but I miss the happier days with my family.

It's been several years since I've spent this particular summer time holiday at my folks beautiful home on the beautiful Lake of the Ozarks.  There are a couple reasons I gave up making the trip for the annual family celebration ...

For one, it's kind of hard to find a place to sleep when 25 to 30 people are spending the long week-end in a 4 bedroom house.  I suppose you could call it 6 bedrooms, if you count the livingroom & the un-air conditioned room above the shed.

The room above the shed is where me & my troops use to sleep when we would make the trek down for the 4th.  There were a couple of years when our two grandkids from Chicago went with us & there were 8 or 9 of us sleeping up there on skinny little cots & air mattresses on the floor.  Even tho you literally had to walk over people, that was my sleeping place of choice.  With a big fan up there, the heat wasn't too intolerable thru the nite, the big problem was having to get up to pee thru the nite, as the nearest toilet was down a long, narrow outdoor flight of stairs, across the gravel driveway & into the house - by the light of only a flashlight  And inevitably at least 3 grandkids woke up at different times thru each nite to have to potty   

As I got older, the anticipation of all the fun became more diminished each year, replaced with the dread of waking up each morning with aching back & stiff neck.

BUT, after my Dad got sick there was no way in the world I was going to miss any holiday I could spend with him. 

Then the last 4th of July with him came & no one even realized it at the time. 

I've not been to their house for a 4th of July celebration since we lost him.  It just wouldn't seem right somehow.  He WAS the 4th of July family celebration.

 

Pic of the Day
~~~

I took this cute photo of grand duaghter Logan, in the center, & her friends Sterling & Jase in the pool at the cabin on Saturday.

~~~

 

Wishing you all a very

HAPPY 4th of JULY!

 

 

Its amazing how we can equate Holidays with certain people isnt it? Unfortunately my fathers birthday was Dec 25 and as you can imagine Christmas just wasnt the same for quite a few years after he left us.

Eventually I realized that he would WANT his young son to enjoy himself, he NEVER would have wanted to "take Christmas" from me... as Im sure your father wouldnt want to take the Fourth from you.

Celebrate however you would like Cathy but do what I do every Dec 25... pause and say HI.... and thanks for all the great memories.

Enjoy!

Wil

Agains....... with apologies to the kids and hubby...

GO BAGEL!!!

;-)

A beautiful story; although a bit sad, I'm sure there are many happy memories.

Have a FANTASTIC FOURTH Cathy!

Hope you have a wonderful summer as well..God Bless!

GO BAGEL!!!!!!

;-)

Hope youre havin a good one Cathy!

Wil

Just poppin in to wish you a GREAT WEEKEND Cathy!

ENJOY!

hi cathy loo . we hope your week is nice and sunny riffic so far

Hi Cathy, hope this is a good week for you. It sure seems as if your grandchildren are enjoying the pool at the cabin. Hope that pesky stepson stays away. We finally got rain down here and we sure needed it.

Just poppin in to wish you a GREAT WEEKEND Cathy!

W

Please come read about my daughter and help me pray. Thanks. www.helphaley.tk

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