Today's Fourth of Julys Don't Hold Roman Candle to Blowouts of Childhood

Summary

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The wonderful July Fourth celebrations of my childhood can't be replicated, partly because nostalgia makes them seem better than they really were and partly because some of the activities are now illegal.

Sure, I can pack a lovely picnic. I can make a sheet cake into an American flag with strawberries, blueberries and Cool-Whip. We can watch the fireworks show at the State Fair Park. But how can that compare with the idiot uncle setting off a stick of dynamite in the pasture? What can be more fascinating than the scientific investigation conducted by the kids at the farm next to ours, to determine how many ladyfinger firecrackers it takes to blow an empty tin can higher than the top of the cherry tree? A safe-and-sane fireworks display can't begin to equal the excitement of someone sticking a lighted sparkler in the back of your tennis shoe to see how fast it makes you dance.

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Extract

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Today's Fourth of Julys Don't Hold Roman Candle to Blowouts of Childhood

When I was a child, the day began with piling kids and boxes of food into the car and heading for the annual Sunday School picnic at Lewisville Park. The ladies all bro...

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