Monday, July 7, 2008

4th of July, Sponsored by Macy's


When I picture 4th of July, I envision an All-American BBQ, with crisp, red and white checkerboard tablecloths, lemonade, watermelon and kids dressed in red, white and blue, right out of a Land’s End catalog. When it gets dark, everyone snuggles together on a blanket and has a stellar view of the multitude of colorful fireworks. “Ohhh, ahhh” can be heard all around. It’s kinda like New Years Eve WHEN WE WERE SINGLE…we had such high hopes for the PERFECT magical evening, to be attending an amazing party with TONS of successful, interesting guys that would be swooning over us, right at midnight…

My perfect 4th of July has never happened yet. Maybe next year. We had a low key BBQ with my mom and then went for a much needed swim. Here in AZ, it is not just hot, it’s FHOT. On the news, they periodically show a zany newscaster frying an egg on the sidewalk, to everyone’s delight. I think it’s been over 110 degrees for 4 weeks now, just to give you an idea. Once in the pool, we looked to the south, to see gigantic, hovering black clouds, getting closer and closer. Our kids, native Arizonans, have had limited experience with precipitation. They immediately notice the cluster of clouds and start to WIG OUT. HARD.

“MOMMY,….THERE’S A TORNADO COMING!!!! HURRY!!! LET’S GET INSIIIIIDDDDEEE NNNOOOOOWWWWW!!!! NNNOOOOWWWW!!!"

Full panic has set in. They were reacting like the folks in a scene from Twister. Cole and Patty were scrambling to get their soaking wet, little bodies out of the bathwater temperature pool, scurrying into the house, shrieking, hysterically. They insisted we get away from the windows, that they would smash in at any moment!

We figured fireworks were cancelled, with the upcoming storm heading our way. The storm lasted 30 minutes. Glad to say we all survived. We watched fireworks on TV, sponsored by Macy’s. How All-American.

3 comments:

Sus said...

Hey! Your perfect 4th image is the same as mine! We must be reading too much Martha Stewart Living. We get pretty close, thanks to a friend who hosts her son's bday party every year on the 3rd, allowing us all to sit in her front lawn for the fireworks in the park, handily, ACROSS THE STREET, that night. Problem is, then we inevitably spend the 4th itself by ourselves, which feels a lot like staying in with your husband on NYE. Perfectly reasonable, but not v. festive. Am thinking of hosting a NYE openhouse this year for families (like 4-8pm) so I don't feel like so much of a loser.

Alice said...

We had the black cloud and hail on Friday too! Very creepy and it all came sooo fast.

Soccer Mom In Heels said...

I'm just figuring out how comment to the comments...I'm just a little slow.

Sus, great idea to do a NYE open house~ fun for families ...

Alice, there must have been mayhem in the skies all over the country! My husband is a big fan of The Weather Channel and was glued to the set that night.