Fourth...and Beyond, Part I

I don't think I mentioned in my last post that I was expecting my daughter and family to be here for the Fourth.  I had a hint that they were coming for the long weekend, but had no idea that they were coming for the whole week.  That's why I didn't post much.  I was too busy cleaning and preparing!

I had help.  My friend James and wife do a lot for me here without asking for a cent, but I do try to pay them, unless they are doing something I didn't ask for.  (They do that a lot.  And I am grateful.)  In any case, when the family got here, I was in the Ready or Not, Here They Come stage. 

The family came on Monday afternoon.  Denis came sick with a cold or something, which Megan soon caught.  Thankfully, the children and I didn't catch it.  Thus, things were sort of low-key.  We arranged for Ryan to play with his buddy, Jack....we shopped for groceries...we prepared food for our Fourth "picnic" with the Heffelman grandparents...and generally had a good time.  Megan and Denis played Mine Craft with the children on their respective computers.  Grandma Peggy just tried to keep up with the meals and the dishes, etc. 

Indiana is on Eastern Daylight Time, while Illinois (where my family lives) in on Central.  It shouldn't be a big deal, but my family tends to sleep late.  Some days, it was close to noon before the troops got up, which throws a monkey wrench into meal planning.  I'm learning to adjust to that. 

On July 4th, we were ready to roll with a 3:00 PM indoor picnic with Grandma Judy, Grandpa Phil, and Uncle Dan.  We had lots of bratwurst of varying kinds, with grilled onions and peppers, potato salad, Phil's fantastic baked bean creation, chips, relishes, watermelon, fruit kabobs, and Judy's poke cake.  We didn't have to send out for pizza! 

After the meal, Uncle Dan went home.  Denis, Phil, and the children walked to Hummel Park down the hill from my house where the Fourth festivities were to take place.  Megan drove Judy and me to the west side of the park where we took up residence on folding chairs in front of the band shell while the children played in the bouncy houses, etc., on the other side of the bridge.  They were all supposed to join us at 7:30 when the concert started, but they were too busy to be bothered, at first.  They missed some of the best stuff of the concert.

I probably should insert here that, after my ex and I split up, Meg and I were looking for Fourth of July experiences, and went to Symphony on the Prairie for about four years.  It required driving up to Connor Prairie (state park??), with a picnic supper and chairs, and waiting until the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra started their "patriotic pops" concert.  Then, at dark, the orchestra would play the 1812 Overture and the fireworks would start...with Stars and Stripes Forever as the finale.  It was pricey, but it made for a great evening, if you could stand the heat until the sun went down.  Before the family left for my place, I hesitantly asked Meg if she and Denis had any desire to do the Prairie thing with the kids.  I think she really wanted to go, but after she tallied up the cost, she decided against it. 

Now, here's the good part:  everything at Hummel Park smacked of the Symphony on the Prairie experience, except it was free!!  The Hendricks County Symphony Orchestra and Symphonic Choir did a three-hour concert of music composed by artists who had repatriated from other lands.  The very first number they did, after the National Anthem, was God Bless America, which was written by Irving Berlin, who was a Russian immigrant.  The maestro dedicated it to those who are not "native born" but who have chosen the US as their home....and Denis was still playing with the kids on the other side of the bridge when it happened!!  The concert consisted of Irish tunes and show tunes. Then there was the salute to the armed forces, where the orchestra played the familiar songs of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines...and the veterans in the audience were asked to stand when their branch of service was played, and remain standing until the end.  (I always have trouble getting through that without weeping.  I grew up on Anchors Aweigh!) 

The last set of the evening was the fireworks music.  The orchestra started with the 1812 Overture, and when the first cannon fired, the fireworks started!  Thereafter, they played the William Tell Overture, the Light Cavalry Overture, and ended with--always the favorite--Stars and Stripes Forever.  I'm not at all sure how Plainfield can top this next year.  We had it all!   

We were involved in Plainfield's version of traffic gridlock getting out of the park, but it was okay.  Phil and Judy went home.  The rest of us retired to the patio at home to do sparklers and minor fireworks.  I don't know about anyone else, but this Fourth was all I could ever hope for: small town feel with good food and lots of fun.  By this time next year, we should already have a brand new American citizen in the family.  I'm already planning the party!