An Interesting Fourth

For my entire life up until about 5 years ago, if it was July 4th the Upchurches were all at Lake Martin. When I was a little girl we'd all load into the boat at dusk and head to Kowaliga to position ourselves to watch a fireworks display that was the biggest thing since sliced bread around here. That was, of course, after a day of eating ourselves silly and watching the grown-ups enjoy a cold beer (hard liquor was never served at the lake) and having seed-spittin' contests before dumping the watermelon rinds deep in the woods, our legs dusted liberally with sulfur powder to ward off the chiggers. Good times.

When boat traffic increased and began to include more and more careless and wreckless boat pilots Henry was given the task of buying all the fireworks his heart desired and launching our own show from our pier. They were really very good, and it was the perfect ending to what was always a perfect day.

Well, times change -- my parents got too old to make the trip to the house there without all of us worrying about them, so they sold their place to my oldest brother and his wife (we were all offered it, and were also offered the chance to buy in, but all declined), and since that time we've only been there once. I'm not sure why that is, but it just is.

Anyway, today's 4th was a smallish one - sister Sally is living in Huntsville now, Bud and his wife were at the lake enjoying some time with their daughters at their summer camps, so it was just Thomas and Cheryl, Mama and Daddy, Henry and me, and Luke, Jackie, and Thomas.

Henry made BBQ chicken and smoked ribs, just for Mama. I did my Famous Potato Salad. Daddy made his Famous Cole Slaw. Cheryl made a wonderful platter of tomatoes, Vidalias, and little cucumbers, Jackie brought her Famous Grape Salad Thing and ice cream with strawberries, and son Thomas provided the beer.

Well, here's the thing -- I've not seen my Daddy drink a beer since his stroke 17 years ago, and today he said, "Ya know? I've not had a beer in I can't remember how long and I want one." Have one he did, and it just delighted my soul to see him enjoy one with his grandsons.

They probably don't remember much about their Pap when he was fully healthy, but they both love him dearly, and I hope they realized that this was a pretty cool moment.

Simple pleasures are treasures.