Parade, Pool, Picnic, Pyrotechnics

Of all the happy memories from my childhood, 4th of July in my small, suburban Philadelphia hometown (pop 5,000) tops the list!

Ages 10 & 7, 1962

Early morning, my brother and I would race through breakfast to decorate our bicycles out on our back patio with red-white-and-blue crepe paper. We'd tape little flags to our handlebars, and, for "neat" sound effects, attach a pair of playing cards to the handlebars with WOODEN CLOTHESPINS!

not mine ~ ("web grab")

We couldn't wait to ride at the back of our tiny (pop. 5,000) hometown parade down "main street!" Our parents and all of the neighbors would bring folding chairs, sit at the top of our street and wave excitedly as we rode by. What a festive sight ~ I can still hear the fire engines!

Aug 1957: my best friends, barbie & terry. Terry's dad, Earl.

Afterwards, the entire town would follow the parade to the park for hot dogs, soda and all the fixins. A band would be playing, lots of laughter and good times as we eagerly anticipated family gatherings followed by FIREWORKS!

Back at home, mom & dad would begin to pack the car as we grabbed our suits to meet up with friends at the pool and yes, you guessed it, later we'd have a picnic spread out in the grass.

And the BEST PART: driving to Philadelphia with a box of sparklers, taking the long walk to the (School for the Deaf) schoolgrounds with thousands of others to eat ice cream and watch the pyrotechnics!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!