Independence Day is our greatest patriotic holiday so let’s have a good time in 2006.
Give some solemn thanks to our freedom and all those who made it possible, from John Hancock and the other signatories to the Declaration of Independence to the men and women fighting the war on terror today. Then go out and have a good time.
Perhaps we’re watching too much TV news, but it seems like every reason for celebration is a catastrophe these days. The sun come out and there are endless stories about the three unfortunate people who drowned out of the millions who were outdoors enjoying themselves. The Fourth of July approaches and we’re warned of the extreme danger of fireworks, sunburn and food poisoning. It seems that the fun is drained out of everything just to make the news more interesting.
Our advice is to ignore the TV news. Use common sense with your fireworks, as the vast majority of young people and adults do every year. Obey the law, think of your neighbors, but have a little fun. There are few things children enjoy more than a fireworks show put on by dad in the driveway, as long as there is a bucket of water nearby, of course. Risk digging into that potato salad even if it’s been out in the hot sun for a few minutes too long. Go swimming for gosh sakes; if you use your God-given brains you won’t be sucked under water by a whirlpool or bump you head on a submerged log. Get the kids outdoors, away from their TVs, computers and video games, and have some fun in the sun or, if need be, under the clouds.
To cap it all off, take the family to Oak Harbor for the 4th of July weekend carnival, the parade on Independence Day, and the spectacular fireworks show that will cap it off the night of the 4th. We could warn you to make sure you’re buckled up in those carnival rides, to keep out of the way of the fire trucks in the parade, and not to look up at the fireworks for fear that you’ll get a cinder in your eye, but we won’t. The TV folks will take care of that. We just want you to have a fun, exciting and memorable Fourth of July.
