thanks to Songbird for today's RevGal Friday Five!
In the U.S., we're heading into a holiday weekend as we prepare to celebrate Independence Day. Although the topic of this meme may be inevitable, independence never is, so it couldn't hurt to stop and think for a minute about independence in a general way and holidays in a more trivial way.
1) Do you celebrate 4th of July (or some other holiday representing independence?) Yes, indeedy. We usually go to the big fireworks show presented by the Kiwanis at our local University stadium. It's a great event and open to the entire community. They have games, etc. for kids and live music, and end up with fireworks. This year's band is Rivers West, which includes the President of our city's Chamber of Commerce. (If you look at the link, he's the second from left, with the mustache.) I love small town Texas! :) And HE is the former high school sweetheart of my sweet sister in law Gail!
2) When was the first time you felt independent, if ever? I had glimmerings in high school, when I started to drive; then in college and grad school, as I moved into my first apartment. But when my parents retired and moved to Florida (I'd been in grad school three years), leaving me in Texas, I knew I was on my own, practically speaking! It was a little scary and very empowering. (They've moved back to Texas and have lived 2 different places here since then, but I'm still independent!) :)
3) If you're hosting a cookout, what's on the grill? My dear stepdaughter Holley and her friend will be here, so a Costco trip is in the offing! Steak, brats, big portobello mushrooms, and corn and asparagus...yum yum!
4) Strawberry Shortcake -- biscuit or sponge cake? Discuss. Oh, biscuit for sure. I'll never forget the first time I made Bisquick shortcakes for my family (on a trip home from college) and my dad looked at me with something approaching reverence and said, "This is better than my MOTHER used to make!" Of course Gramma Beth didn't have Bisquick!
5) Fireworks -- best and worst experience Worst - the time my older brother took me out to shoot fireworks in the country and a Black Cat went off in my hand. OUCH!!!!! Also the many times that Brandon whined his BUTT off to be taken somewhere to shoot fireworks. We've always had a ban on personal fireworks in the city, but going out to someone's property outside the city limits has so far been an option. This year, there is a ban on personal fireworks everywhere in the area...the drought is just that bad. Pray for rain, y'all.
Best and CRAZIEST - the time we went to a July 4th celebration in Kerens, TX, the small, tiny town where my BIL and SIL live. Gail was mayor at that time. They had gotten something like $40K worth of PROFESSIONAL fireworks for just a fraction of that cost, and their plan for setting them off, Gail said, was that "Larry and the other guys are just going to walk around with cigars and light them." WHAT! :0
I am happy and relieved to say that no one got blown up, though there was a close call when one of the standing fireworks things fell over and shot big fireworks at the bleachers. Everybody ran like heck and no one was hurt. I was glad when that was OVER!
I regret that I cannot answer the bonus 1776 questions as I have only seen it once and that was 15 years ago. Maybe I'll add it to my Netflix queue!
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