Independence

It's a big holiday weekend in the U.S. A weekend where complete idiots can buy flammable stuff that blows up, drink copious amounts of alcohol, and then try their hand at grilling and chopping things with large kitchen knives, with the additional attraction of having relatives around that they hate (who are also drinking, and likely have knives, or quite possibly firearms.) Yes, it's 4th of July weekend!

I imagine that shows like COPS get enough material for a whole season just over this one weekend.

Since we moved waaaaaay up north here, there is one major notable difference... oh, alright there are several. One of the most disappointing is that the only festive flammable things an idiot like me can legally buy out here are sparklers and things that smoke. I'm supposed to be grateful, because for a while even those were banned.

But the other, and rather more confusing one, is that major celebrations (like city firework displays and events) can happen on any day BUT THE ACTUAL HOLIDAY! I think a couple areas actually do manage to put their celebrations on the 4th, but most put it anywhere from the 1st through the 3rd. The 4th is actually on a Friday this year, so there isn't some lame excuse like it being a Tuesday and people having to work the next day... and yet, the big celebration is once again on the 3rd.

Is there a good reason for this? Does anyone know? Growing up out West, our celebrations were always on the 4th - no matter what. They didn't care that you had to work the next day! You're in the U.S., man! Suck it up! But seeing that even on a Friday, they insist on an early fireworks/celebration... do they know something that the rest of us don't? Maybe Vermont is just irked that they weren't a part of the original 13 colonies, and they're protesting?

I'll have lots of pictures from the local parade here. It's worth a visit every year, regardless of which day it happens to land on. (Actually, I think the parade itself is on the 4th.) It's like something right out of Mayberry. If I get up early enough, I might even have photos of the annual outhouse race. (No, I'm not kidding.)

I must confess that what I do truly love out here (beyond it being pretty) is that the little local town fairs and festivals really are right out of a postcard. Movies outdoors all summer long at the town gazebo, farmer's markets, and harvest festivals just to name a few.

Tonight, we'll be packing up a basket and several blankets, adorning the children in glow-necklaces and bracelets (and bringing enough for their friends who always show up too.) We'll be camped out on the grass with lots of other families, watching the fireworks and gossiping. A day early... but it will still be pretty spectacular.