Pbenjay's Blog

Seriously, there are several mandatory events that constitute the Fourth of July holiday.  I started to write “Now that the Government…” when I realized that perhaps I am the only one who reads this blog who remembers WHEN there wasn’t an officially designated Monday as a Federal holiday. Oops there I go again, digressing…back to the series of events that make the 4th of  July a real holiday!

Fireworks : That just goes without saying; firecrackers, poppers, sparklers, cherry bombs, Roman candles during the day and the big show at night.  If you live in Manhattan, you can view one of the best fireworks display in the country.  Macy’s sponsors this annual event and if you don’t get invited to a rooftop or want to stand on the FDR drive, you can always stay home in your air-conditioned apartment and watch the magnificent fireworks on TV.  And most towns sponsor their own individual displays.  We  in Ocean Grove have  neighboring towns on both sides who have a display – fireworks on Saturday night in Bradley Beach and in Asbury Park on Sunday!

The Parade: This is best observed in a small town and since Manhattan doesn’t have a parade, every other place will seem like a small town!  This year we watched Ocean Grove’s annual parade (see previous blog).  As with most small towns it is an all-encompassing community event; marchers include the police, the fire trucks, the Eagle Scouts, the school bands, kids on bicycles and in red wagons decorated with red, white and blue ribbons and crepe paper, Bagpipers, Bugle, Fife and Drum Corps, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Blue Birds and more, vintage cars, local businesses with banners advertising their services, VFW members, the Chamber of Commerce, political candidates and any and every organization that can organize a contingency, clowns, citizens dressed in Revolutionary garb and best of all – CANDY!!  Everybody throws candy at the parade watchers – the little kids LOVE this.  Penny candy is freely tossed to the crowds.

Concerts: Free concerts everywhere!  Boston has the Boston Pops Orchestra performing along the Charles, Manhattan hosts a concerts in Battery Park City and for me – we went to the Ocean Grove Summer Band’s concert in the Great Auditorium.  They performed such American holiday classics as Victory At Sea, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, Stars and Stripes Forever.

The Beach: The Fourth of July weekend used to be the official beginning of summer – that was when we all went to grammar school and didn’t get out for summer recess until the last week of June!! So this is the weekend where everyone wants to go to the beach – the pool – the lake.

The Cook-Out: or barbeque, or picnic, or backyard supper.  I love this holiday tradition, gathering family and friends to share a meal.  This year, we had no plans and I felt awful  and reminded Peter of last year when Chiara, Tom and Finley were here and my cousin Marian and Bob showed up and we started the day with a neighborhood outdoors brunch and ended it with a big cook-out in our backyard.  THIS YEAR we were fortunate to be invited to our friend, Joe’s house for a traditional backyard barbeque.  It was a timely invitation and the occasion served as a way for us to visit and meet Michael, Joe’s friend from San Fransisco.  Michael was delightful and we were delighted to meet him and look forward to his return for Labor Day festivities. And the food was delicious (as always).  We had the traditional fare of hot dogs, hamburgers and chicken, and potato salad and my Italian Jersey contribution – that would be the best tomatoes in the country prepared with Italian seasonings.

Lunch is served

Caprese Salad

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