Independence Day, Southern Colorado Style

Summertime isn't summertime until the 4^th of July rolls about. I live in an extremely patriotic family, and the chance to show that off with a mass of exploding power and sparkling, crackling jewels never escapes them.

Without fail, Independence Day is a big to-do in my family. The 4 F's are sure to make an appearance at least one time during that 24 hour period - Food, Family, Fun and of course....Fireworks. There is NO way that the 4^th would go down around here without them. Even when the drought made it extremely dangerous (if not illegal in many places), we had them.

The 4^th starts early around here, with a trop to pick up our massive stash of explosives a couple of weeks beforehand. And there's a system, too. We have to have very certain types, and a certain number of each of those types. Fountains, rockets, sparklers, snakes, poppers, spinners, the list is endless. And we go through them all too, always carefully o make sure no one gets hurt. We regressed into childhood one year, and had a bottle rocket war involving the whole neighborhood. After shooting your future father-in-law in the behind, you think twice about those type of battles.

We never know just who will show up either. Inviting every family member we can think of is normally on the agenda, along with all the friends we have usually amounts to a good deal of people, and none of them can seem to remember to RSVP, so we prepare around them. How can you not, when you invite every single person you know?

Food, well we gave up long ago trying to prepare all of it. We normally take care of the meats (whatever strikes our fancy that year), along with a massive pot of green chile (a gathering does not go by when I'm not required to make it....it's a well-known dish around here), and all the drinks you could ever want. Non-adult for the kids, and stronger spirits for those of us who are of age, which is just a fabulous combination with the fireworks, let me tell you. We eat, nap, talk, drink, and play all afternoon, keeping cool via the pools, hoses, and of course, water balloons. What would a hot summer day in Colorado be without a good water fight?

Sundown comes late in this part of the country, and I don't know who's worse - the kids, or the guys. They literally regress into teenage years when the fireworks come out. They enjoy it more than all the kids combined, I do believe. It's so nice to see them all enjoying themselves though, so we really don't complain.

We light fireworks, stuff ourselves, enjoy the good friends and good conversation until we can no longer keep ourselves awake, then retire to get some rest, knowing that we've had a wonderfully free day. Enjoying ourselves as we please, knowing that we were granted those choices we so enjoyed well over 200 years ago, and being ever so thankful for that greatest of all gifts - the freedom to enjoy this wonderful country for another year.