Memories of July 4th - Time Marches On
When I think of the Fourth of July as a child, I recall swimming at the pool at the Carroll Country Club and watching fireworks from the first green. I remember the time my long hair got singed by a sparkler.
Since my two boys were very young, the 4th has been a special time to explore the patriotic celebrations in nearby communities. We would go from one event to the next on July 3rd and 4th and always watch fireworks at least once. As they have gotten older, things have changed. Now they are too old for sparklers and bounce houses and light-up toys. This year, both of them, ages 13 and 16, chose to spend their Fourth of July with friends.
When they were little, the Fourth of July was so exciting. We would sit along the curb in Valley Junction waiting for the parade. My oldest, Kellan, loved fire trucks and would anxiously await the big, shiny, red trucks to come down the street. They must have seemed massive compared to him. The trucks would blow their loud horn and it would startle him. I remember when he was around two, the horn scared him and he turned down his lower lip and almost cried, but was so happy to see the fire truck, he forgot about being scared. The boys would collect plenty of candy and then we would explore the street festival making giant bubbles, playing games, and climbing the rock wall.
July 3rd and 4th were two of the most fun-filled days of the year. Back-to-back fun in Waukee at Centennial Park playing on the playground until the fireworks began and shrieking with glee on the rides at the Urbandale Carnival in Lions Parks. They especially liked to play the carnival games, trying to win a stuffed animal as a prize. When I think back, I feel like it was so easy to make them happy with fun games or an ice cream treat. Childhood happiness is truly pure and sweet.
Recently, my memories on my phone popped up and I began looking at some of the Fourth of July outings from the past. We often went to Living History Farms to explore and learn about Iowa's history. Walking the trails between the farms felt like such an adventure. The kids dug for pennies in a haystack and took turns walking on wooden stilts. I smiled at the coordinating outfits they used to wear, back when they still let me dress them in what I wanted. I used to shop for patriotic t-shirts and shorts so they had two outfits to wear each year. Now, both of them are teens and I don’t think they have anything red, white, and blue in their closets.
I look at their smiling baby faces and remember those joy-filled days. At the time, those days seemed long dealing with the heat and an endless stream of food, drinks, and outflowing cash. It felt like the kids had boundless energy. We would arrive home late after the fireworks, tired, but happy.
People always told me, “Kids grow up fast. Pretty soon they’ll be teenagers.” At the time, I didn’t really believe it. I felt like they would be little boys forever. I felt like those baby faces would never change. Here I am, a mother to two teen boys. Time marches on, but my heart stands still. My life is like a moving parade, but I’m still clutching to the memories of holding my sons in my lap as we wave to the fire trucks passing by.
I’m proud to be a member of the Iowa Writer’s Collaborative:
Those sweet innocent beautiful little faces! I remember those days, too. Thank you for your memories. ♥️