THE STORY BEHIND THE BLOG

This blog started as a place for me to put a few stories I had written about a dad and his two kids and the "everyday adventures" they had together. But it has sort of evolved into a hodge podge of dad related thoughts, stories, songs, and other misc. things.

Sunday, July 3, 2011

July 4th: Then and Now

I grew up in Clear Lake, Iowa....well at least I lived there from 2nd grade through 10th grade (some very important years) but I'm not sure when/if I ever "grew up"....and Clear Lake knows how to celebrate Independence Day.  There is a week long carnival, parade, fireworks over the lake.  It's a great time.  I haven't been back for a July 4th since my family moved away back when I was in High School.  This year, almost entirely due to facebook, I am wishing I could go back.   Lots of people I know either still live in the area or are going back to town for the holiday.  All the talk about it all made me long for the old days.  So I started thinking....maybe next year we'll go back.  I'll take the kids to the carnival.  We'll watch the parade.  We'll play at the beach.  We'll watch the fireworks from one of the docks out on the lake....just like when I was a kid.  It'll be great!

But then I thought some more.  We live in Kaukauna, Wisconsin now.  And there is a 5k race every year on July 4th.  Every year we volunteer....we make an apple pie to hand out to the finishers, the kids hand out american flags at the finish line.  There is music, fireworks, skydivers, and lots of food and fun.  And maybe some day me kids will be telling their kids about the cool Independence Days in Kaukauna.



So I guess I won't force my childhood on my kids....I'll let them have their own.



1 comment:

  1. looks like now is when you have grown up...? big bro

    ReplyDelete