My husband and I will likely drag our camp chairs down the side of our block and stake out a spot to watch Marquette’s annual July 4th parade. I love a parade as much as the next guy. I especially love marching bands. It’s hard not to admire someone playing an instrument that weighs as much as a tuba.
This year the city of Marquette is celebrating its terquasquicentennial anniversary. This means 175th and I first heard about it when I heard our mayor, Sally Davis, say it at a city board meeting. She admitted she had listened to a pronunciation guide online. I did the same thing. Being able to say terquasquicentennial makes me feel smarter.
Since I’m a reporter for the local daily, I’ll snap a few pictures for the paper. And after the parade, about a block away, our mayor and some other dignitaries will open a time capsule. I have no idea what’s in the time capsule. Since it was buried in 1975 (while I was in high school), I’d guess it may include earth shoes and a videotape of “Jaws “— but who knows. I didn’t live in Michigan at the time, and had never heard of the Upper Peninsula.
I know it’s not universally popular for one to say she’s patriotic. But, I’ll admit it. The sight of a soldier or sailor holding a baby chokes me up. I cry at the last few strains of the national anthem. The land of the free and the home of the brave. My mom used to buy us t-shirts with flags on them from Old Navy every July 4th. My dad fired up the grill and my siblings and our spouses all made a command appearance. I’ll try to find one of those t-shirts for the parade this year. If it still fits, I’ll wear it.
I guess I came to patriotism early on. I won a $25 savings bond when I was in the fourth grade for an essay entitled “What patriotism means to me.” I couldn’t recite a word of it now. But, as a 10-year old, I wore my best Sunday dress and rode down to the local TV station with my parents early one morning and read it on air. I got to sit at the anchor desk next to one of the NBC affiliate morning anchors, who was a celebrity to me, and read my little essay. It was the first time I’d gotten paid for anything I’d written, and it seemed like a fortune to me at the time.
No matter how you celebrate, if you do, Happy Fourth dear writers and readers — and Happy Canada Day to our polite northern neighbors!
Do you have plans for the Fourth? Shopping? Cookout? Watching a movie? Reading a book? Share in the comments.
Chicks on the Case 
No plans for this year. My family often gets together with my sibs’ families. This time around, it’s our first as empty nesters, so we will probably take time to enjoy a quiet day…until the neighborhood starts setting off the fireworks.
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We a walk out our back door to watch the fireworks. We’ll wait until we hear them firing up!
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I plan to spend some time reading. Might do hot dogs and maybe a pasta salad. Neighbors will be away camping so I will be thoughtful and check their property out by watching fireworks from their yard as the view is better.
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You are a smart and thoughtful neighbor!
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I love a parade, too, Vickie–especially the marching bands! (Partly, I’m sure, because I was in the band in high school and marched in many parades.) And I do love watching fireworks.
But hearing them? Not so much. And especially not hearing the fireCRACKERS, which drive our pooch Ziggy into a state of hysteria. So we pack ourselves and little Ziggy off to our friends’ house who live far from the noise every 4th (and New Years). But we do still barbecue! This year, I’m trying out a recipe for kalbi ribs for my next Orchid Isle mystery.
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Sounds delish! We’ll likely eat wings.
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A $25 savings bond is an amazing win, Vickie! And I’ve been eyeing those Old Navy t-shirts but haven’t caved in yet.
As for the 4th, we’ll be off on vacation, so I’ll actually be celebrating in Jersey. There’s supposed to be a grand event, complete with a night market, so I’m excited!
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I’m sure Jersey will have all the food and fun you could want for the Fourth!
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Vickie: I love this! And congrats on winning the essay contest and having the news experience (wonder if that put you on the reporting path?).
And love love love a parade. Love the energy and excitement. Though my sons still make fun of me for yelling—apparently multiple times—“It’s Tinkerbell!!!!!” at the Disney parade.
(In my defense, it was Tinkerbell!) 🙂
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I think one has to be deeply unhappy not to enjoy a parade — or a marching band! And who doesn’t love Tinkerbell?!
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Right?? It’s TINKERBELL! ❤
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Wide World of Disney opening…Tinkerbell!
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Vickie, I literally lol’d at your mayor admitting she used a pronunciation guide for that word – which I can’t even spell! What great memories you have.
I have exactly zero memories of the 4th growing up. It wasn’t a big deal in my family for whatever reason. But I do have memories of when I moved to Manhattan after college and got to watch the Macy’s fireworks from both rivers!
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I think fireworks are the best part of the Fourth! No worries for me since I don’t have a pet or baby to freak out. And John’s pretty chill.🥸
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Yes! 5 simultaneous shows to view from all directions with 1812 Overture–the best!
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I’m trying to get over a cold that just won’t let go. But if I do, I’ll probably go hang out with some friends from church who open their home every year.
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Hope you’re about over the cold. Happy Fourth, Mark!
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I will be with Koda at the Cottage – by myself. The Hubby is in Buffalo dealing with things for his dad. So I expect a pretty quiet day.
It’ll be interesting to see what they do for fireworks.
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Happy Fourth, Liz! Hope you have some wings or ice cream treat — whatever makes you smile!
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Vickie, I couldn’t help but think of the movie Waiting for Guffman when I read about Marquette’s terquasquicentennial anniversary. (The movie centers around that town’s sesquicentennial, which I also can’t spell or pronounce.)
I’m hopping aboard the parade bandwagon! This year, I think we’ll take little doggo Olive to our town’s Fourth of July pet parade. It’s been going on since 1924 and it’s a hoot–and a howling good time!
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Kathy, that sounds like a great idea — a pet parade! I’m excited about the time capsule since I learned it’s COFFIN-sized! Wonder what or who is in there!
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Vickie, I love the story about your essay–and hearing about your journalistic adventures. (The coffin time capsule, yikes–keep us posted!) This Fourth, I’m remembering fireworks past: as a kid, lying on a blanket at the beach; in NYC with my kids watching the Macy’s displays from a friend’s rooftop or the East River, small New England fireworks shows over lakes; the Fireman’s Fair near Corning, NY; being literally smoked out from my sidewalk-level apt in Brooklyn by neighborhood pyrotechnics…I miss them all. This year we’ll attend a minor league baseball game, with fireworks. Cue the anthem and play ball–keep the faith, America!
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Oh, Lisa, a baseball game is a quintessentially American way to spend the Fourth! Enjoy a hot dog and a beer — and sing off- key!
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