used to host a huge 4th of July party every year in the afternoon on the 4th. First it was at my aunt and uncle's house; they moved and hosted the party for a few more years, then my uncle died and my cousin took over the party at her house. When it was at her house, it also included members of her husband's family who are all, every single one of them, absolutely lovely. But it was still a bit weird, and conversational groups tended to be divided into "our" family and cousin's husband's family. Obviously there was no party in 2020, and it was also cancelled in 2021. I wanna say there was a party in 2022...or maybe it was '23; anyways, it was one but not both years. Now my aunt, uncle and older cousin are all gone...I wonder if my other cousin doesn't want to have the "usual" party because it would be painful for her to have so few representatives from our side of the family? Or maybe it's just too much work (though everyone brings at least one dish)? Or maybe she just doesn't want to have the party anymore? Whatever the reason, there's been no mention this year of a party, so unless there's a VERY last minute invite, it won't be happening.
Our town used to have a parade every year on the 4th; over the years, I've ridden on floats supporting my summer softball league teams (4th-6th grade was the "pigtail" league, 7th-9th grade the "ponytail" league...I didn't play past the start of 8th grade so I don't know if there was a high school summer league). I marched in the marching band three years. And one memorable year, Mom's friends--who always drove their antique car in the parade--stopped when they saw me on the route and let me climb into the rumble seat and ride with them the rest of the way. I've thought on and off about going to the parade again or maybe attending a big 4th of July celebration one town over...or maybe doing nothing except listen to neighbors shoot off far, far too many fireworks, for days on end. The fireworks actually started not just this past weekend but the Saturday night before that, and I'm sure I'll hear them every night possibly through this weekend.
