The 250th anniversary approaches and we've not made plans. Being a former planner, I realize that isn't such a bad thing, as plans usually go awry anyway, but some people feel there must be a notation on the calendar to make things official. In a nod to patriotic events and the local fireworks display, I mowed the lawn of the Labrot House for viewing and generally kicking around the shore. Walking across a snake in the yard might put a damper on festivities.
One year the Adams put on a show of their own! You can see the aerials from the Pascagoula show there, and hear them afar off, over the tops of the parts of the navy that is still in the shipyard. I've thought the upstairs window might be the perfect view, but have actually never tried it. That is a more an intimate place than a public one though.
And the public is the problem with actually attending the real event. In reality, the Pascagoula show is actually a huge event for the community. There is little parking and a big portion of the south side of town becomes a parking lot. Nobody cares and the police don't pay any attention, either. One thing about it, you're going to walk a couple of miles to and from in most cases, and the weather is usually fantastic. The families and kids sit along Beach Blvd, play in the sand, talk, gossip, walk up and down and generally mix with everyone in town. Volley ball, Frisbees, and kids gallivanting and having a ball. You'll see someone you know, guaranteed, and multi-family/friend groupings are common. It's pretty nice. The boulevard is shut down except to the police Harleys, and bicycles and it is a three mile throng of residents.
A goup of residents also anchor up on the bay before the event, although that particular spot can be very bad if the wind blows hard enough. And the tide is low. Anything over a gentle breeze and it gets lumpy, but those with boats large enough, and shallow enough, can still have a great view.
Beach Park is the center of activities, and the rockets are launched from the city pier. No fishing tonight, there be FIRE on the pier! It's a big show and the bombs they shoot are loud enough you can hear it from Wolf Ridge if the wind is out of the south. Most years it IS out of the south, and a sailing thunderstorm out on the Gulf is possible. The light from the rockets and bursts highlight the sailing smoke and the air coming off the Gulf of Mosquitoes, which are usually not a problem with the breeze. Although the cynic in me also thinks a lot of spraying by the city may have preceded the event.
So it IS possible we'll sit on the lawn somewhere and watch the air bursts from afar. That mile or two you had to walk with the kids is now much more than it used to be for a lot of folks I know. No problem personally and for that I give thanks. And thanks for being lucky enough to have been born in this great country.
And if the mosquitoes are bad, we'll do a little spraying of our own. How's THAT for a plan?
And it was a nice show enjoyed alone in the Bucees chair under the oak. No snakes encountered. Everyone else swam too much, ate too much, and were too sleepy to make it to the shore but me ;D It was nice and quiet, the breeze (and spray) kept the insects at bay, and on the way home the thunderstorm to the north laughed at the puny fireworks ;D
For many years now our neighbors have put on a spectacular show. We would invite friends to sit on our front lawn and enjoy. Alas, this was his last year but the final show was certainly worthy of the 250th. The down side was that a fierce weather event cut the show and backyard BBQ/ pool party short. Winds came through at 60+ MPH with torrential downpour. Our guests grabbed everything and we ran inside. Neighbors had a tree that lost a large limb (and crushed a car, nobody injured). We watched the fireworks on TV and continued the party on our front porch and back den. The son of one of our guests is a 4th of July birthday, so that always is fun too.
Brian I noted to the former COP that this year had been unusual, as most years we are driven inside by a thunderstorm ;D I had fun, and of course ate a hot dog. The former COP is my surrogate daughter's husband and all the family was there. He joked that Landon, his son and my first mate, certified that he took life lessons from me after Sonya and I bickered playfully. Everyone swam, ate, and socialized, and the kids were so tired that nary a meltdown occurred!!!!!
Is she perfect after 250? Not by a long shot, but she has allowed me to be safe, productive, charitable, responsive, and part of a story that still is being written. Hundreds of people that I know or have known have served in one capacity or another to make the way clear. I hope she's still here 250 years in the future offering the same promise.
The 4th was very busy for me. My focus for several days was on the 5th as our church was planning a big celebration of our nation's birthday.
Our neighbors celebrate big. Last year he told me that they spent $5k on fireworks. I'm guessing it was the same this year. Fact of the matter was I was too tired to even go outside. Too tired to watch any celebrations on TV.
But we did have a nice service on Sunday. Even George Washington showed up!
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Kay Adams told me that the cost of the fireworks wasn't so bad that time they put on a show. I don't know about all that. I didn't really like her very much, but I will say she helped during Cecily's wedding. Maybe it was the time she had come to examine "the project" and stood looking amidst the chaos. And commented, "Y'all don't have enough money to get this done"
Spoken from a place of never wanting or needing. Gone now, and it is someone else's money.
Well, comes to turn out we DIDN'T have enough, but I know who owns the cattle on a thousand hills and He did 8)
I understand about tired, too. The kids, who I had counted on as back-up for the fireworks viewing fell asleep from swimming ALL day. And the adults were just as bad ;D
Old George looks perky! He knew that same cattle farmer, too.
Oh, BTW, did you notice my tie? One of my church members gave this to me for some occasion. Since I couldn't make the tall ship parade, thought I'd bring my own parade to celebrate 250!
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