I suppose I should welcome in the new month this week. Hello, July! Growing up, Fourth of July weekend was always typically the same. There’d be some sort of picnic or cookout involving family and friends and good food. Then, as dusk would settle in, we’d load up the car with folding chairs and blankets plus a cooler with snacks and sodas and drive to a nearby fireworks show. Although I’ve noticed the number of family members at these picnics has dwindled over time, it’s still an enjoyable day as always. 

As I remember it correctly, we’d always view Allentown’s show from Cedar Beach. Our blankets and chairs parked among a sea of others, my sister and I would playfully run around with our cousins and cover our ears when it became too loud once the show started. When my mom learned of the Bethlehem fireworks show (which I like to claim was always much better than Allentown’s), we gathered up the gear and headed to a grassy spot near the Fahy Bridge instead.

For years this would be the plan. I have lots of vivid memories from past Fourth of Julys. Like the one time when my sister and I took handfuls of sparklers, lit them, and road around the neighborhood on our rollerblades only stopping home to grab more handfuls of sparklers. Or there was the time when an ice cream truck, conveniently parked nearby, that played loudly the “Do Your Ears Hang Low…” song over and over and over again until no one could stand the tune by the time it finally drove away.

The last few years I’ve found myself in new places like Philadelphia to celebrate the holiday. This weekend, it seems as though I’ll find myself in yet another new place–northern PA–for a camping weekend complete with tents and no running water (my mom’s idea of a dreadful time, but totally exciting to me). I hope all of you reading this have a great holiday weekend whatever your tradition may be! And don’t forget to catch a fireworks show.