News From Browntown

News From Browntown

Happy Fourth of July!

Does anybody else remember how much Pawpaw loved the Fourth of July? It was always one of his favorite secular holidays, as I recall. Every element of Fourth of July celebration was something he particularly enjoyed. Even the patriotic colors motif suited him. He could actually see red, white and blue.

For another thing the timing of this holiday suited him to a Tee. Portsmouth-born and raised, he preferred hot weather (no matter how high the temperature climbed, it never got too hot for him) and blazing, steamy July Fourth was a book-end to cold, white Christmas. July 4th stood as the pinnacle of the summer for him and more than once he told me that "after that it was downhill" to winter time.

Outdoor socializing and eating was his favorite way to entertain. If cooler heads had not prevailed (ie. Grammy, who did all the cooking), he would have declared the whole summer season one long week-end picnic which was pretty much how it happened anyway in later years in Browntown.

As little children, we looked forward to the Fourth of July picnics at Aunt Emma's and Uncle Floyd's house just two short blocks from Ocean View. Not even us kids were more excited than Daddy was about being with the family, going to Ocean View amusement park and watching the evening fireworks from Aunt Emma's back yard- a pretty spectacular display over the park and beach to the accompaniment of amusment park music and thrill ride screams - 100% Americana.

Of course, there were the years when we stayed in Arlington and had the real Fourth of July thrill of a lifetime watching - in person - the fireworks display at the Washington Monument. We all remember how Daddy loved old-fashioned band music, the more rousing the better, and John Philip Sousa marches were at the top of his list. Is there any bigger thrill than watching fireworks bursting over the Potomac and listening to the Navy Band playing John Philip Sousa marches in the background? Even the Boston Pops Fourth of July cannot beat that! Pawpaw loved it!

The Fourth of July for Pawpaw in later years was quiet, low-key and relaxed and what you all, Win, Emma and Andrew, will remember. Fourth of July Browntown style - usually a picnic at our house or Grammy and Pawpaw's with friends and family and maybe a short walk down to the Bowntown celebration sometime during the day. Pawpaw seemed to enjoy it in a different way after 10 years of living outside of the U.S. Or maybe it was his age and the national political climate, or maybe it's my age and my memory.

Anyway, Happy Fourth of July, 2006! PLEASE BE SAFE