Sunday, July 5, 2009

Fall River






















When I was growing up, we spent many Fourths of July at my grandparents' lakehouse. Situated in a cluster of other houses, and some distance from the water's edge, it was among a tidy little community of summer dwellers.

My grandparents' lakehouse was basically one large room that was divided into living areas through the strategic placement of furniture. It had a style that was unique and eclectic, part nautical, part British, part garage sale. My grandparents, to be frugal and creative, had carpeted the entire space in samples. I'm not sure if there were two squares that were the same color, something my sister and I delighted in exploring. The place was never anything but spotless, but it had the air of a space that wasn't used often. It's been twenty years since I last set foot in there and I can smell it still.

Each year, everyone from their little lake community would throw in some money or fireworks and they would put on a big display. Unrestricted by city ordinances, they shot them off right in the middle of everything. Probably not the safest, but it made for one hell of a show. As we sat on lawn chairs or blankets, oohing and aahing at the bursts of light, the smoke would wash over us, filling our noses with that sulfuric odor.

Before we went to bed, we would all lay out on lawn chairs and look up at the sky. Removed from the city, under that big Kansas sky, you could see galaxy after galaxy full of stars. We would search for satellites, those slow moving pinpricks of light, bringing up conversations of the vastness of space and our little place in it.

To this day, when I think of my childhood Fourths of July, it is those experiences that call to me. It is because of them that I love fireworks. The big booms that come seconds after the explosion, the little pops, the zingers, the whistles, the hisses, and of course that smoky smell.

We introduced Sophie to the little ones this year. Just the stuff that we could legally (I think) fire off in our backyard. I had worried that she would be scared by the sounds and smell but at the end of our little fireworks show, she clapped. Spontaneously and unprovoked. Watching her renewed my own sense of awe at these wonders.

I hope that we can build on the emotion of those old traditions to create our own.

20 comments:

  1. Beautiful picture!!!

    What neat memories you have of your grandparents lakehouse. Those smells and sounds stick with you for life.

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  2. What a beautiful memory! And how nice that your daughter has the same appreciation! I love the smells and sights of the 4th too. Not only the fireworks, but the grilling! Mmmmm grilling!

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  3. Awwwh Sophie! I can't wait to share fireworks with Maia.

    Your childhood Fourths sound delightful. I love that your grandparents carpeted the place in samples... that's a cool idea!

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  4. (*smiles*) Such great memories and a new tradition for Sophie.

    My two youngest (7 & 2) hated them :{

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  5. Such a sweet post with beautiful childhood memories... now you're making new ones for your little girl! How special!

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  6. Aw, great post, Cara! One of the best parts of being a mom is the opportunity to create new traditions or carry on old ones for your babies to experience.

    I love that she loved that she liked the fireworks.

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  7. What lovely memories!

    My brother always does a big (illegal--ahem) fireworks show over at my mom's house.

    It scared the bejeezus out of Xander last night. He stayed inside watching cartoons.

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  8. Family traditions make life.

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  9. I can literally smell your grandparents' lakehouse. What a BEAUTIFUL job you did describing it, Cara! Carpet sample squares and all. I now want to go there.

    We're such bad parents. Our girls saw NO fireworks this year. Because we all went to bed early on Saturday night.

    And by went to bed, I mean I watched Transporter 1 and 2. My boyfriend is how I celebrated my freedom.

    (Wait, that sounds awful. I love my husband, I do, I do, I do!!!!!)

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  10. Wow, what beautiful memories! Thanks for sharing. And I'm so glad Sophie loved the fireworks. There really is something incredible about fireworks...they're so loud and explosive, yet when they light up the sky, they are the most beautiful and spell-binding things ever!

    I'm following your blog now...I enjoy your thoughts!

    -Jonna

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  11. Awww, sweet! I'm glad that she enjoyed it!

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  12. Such an awesome picture! I am the same way. The 4th was always amazing for me as a child and I still feel like a child when I watch fireworks today :)

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  13. Oh, that sounds lovely! Our fireworks plans got rained out, so Axel was introduced to the parade side of the holiday. I can't wait until we go to a big fireworks show.

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  14. Great post!

    I'm so jealous of you guys and how you celebrate the 4th of July. Canada sucks. LOL

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  15. I adore the 4th of July. The night air and the expectation. The crowds of people gathered to celebrate our country... It's FABULOUS. And my kids have always loved the loud boomers. THANK GOD!

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  16. I love the lake (or the ocean.) I think summers spent like that with family and friends is priceless--what great memories!

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  17. Great memories of your July 4th Holidays....I have many fond ones too!!!! :)

    What a little cutie you have...she is just adorable!!!
    Have a great day.....

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  18. It sounds like such a fun place and great traditions!!

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  19. What a sweet post...thank you so much for sharing! They always air the 4th of July "Welcome Philadelphia" finale on TV here (4th of July is actually about a 10-day celebration here with several nights of fireworks), so we DVR'd it so Ryan could watch the next day. He didn't seem to get all the hoopla. He did enjoy the local parade though, which gave me feel some warm fuzzies. Anything with lots of bikes and fire trucks is sure to become one of his favorites!

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  20. I love the 4th as well. We live in a large city now, and rarely fight the crowds and traffic to go to our local displays. But oh, how I love fireworks! As a kid, we always went to see them on the lake. So much fun!

    Your grandparents lakehouse sounds like a wonderful place!

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Give me some sugar, baby!