4th of July memories...

I seem to remember the 4th as being a time when we would go visit a relative and have a picnic. I specifically remember on 4th when we went up to where my mom grew up on the Rez. Naturally everyone had fireworks. One of the more powerful firecrackers was called an M80 and one of the kids lit one and put it under his mom's law chair when she was nodding off. I don't think I've ever seen anyone jump that high in my life. Good thing she didn't get a heart attack. Later in life when I had two little ones I think we went to a number of 4th of July parades. They used to have a little one in St.Boni, one in Chanhassen and then the big one in Delano. We also went to a parade in Mandan, North Dakota one 4th. I don't think I've ever been to a parade that had so many horses in it as that one. Of course I've also walked in a number of parades taking photos of the local high school marching band or to hand out political tracks for a candidate. I also walked in a couple of parades as "the candidate". Certainly, the big parade for me was the one in Olivia during Corn Capitol Days and Olivia Newton-John was the grand marshal. I interned at the local newspaper at the time so I got to take lots of pictures of her but I never did get to meet her. This happened shortly after the release of "Grease" so it was quite the big deal.