Jewells of Thought

My definition of normal 4th of July has been different the past few holidays. However, this was a new first. We had the Covid year being told a parade would not happen in Linton. I remember being a part of the group praying this would work and oh boy God worked through this Prayer Brigade of Patriotic Christians line the parade route with special prayer shirts, Bibles and prayers. That was an amazing sight especially when the Police and Fire Departments saw these people on the day that should have been the long standing Linton Freedom Parade. I heard they were practically in tears seeing this multitude of mostly men marching on without the cadence of the usual multiple marching bands.

Before that year we had to get used to not having children around and candy at the parade wasn’t enough of a bribe. This year though, two facts had already been known. We wouldn’t be stepping into Grandma’s house this year to have our dinner of usually hot dogs and sloppy joe. Secondly, she wasn’t at her house, instead we would be visiting her at the residence for a little visit in the afternoon. It was a little bit later in the afternoon than we had expected due to a little girl showing up with no less than 4 tics. I meticulously looked her over to make sure there were no other surprises. Of course, then I felt like I had something on me the rest of the day.

Fortunately, this was where normalcy came back to my day. As my niece left us for her dad again, for the millionth time, they went to see a carnival, my parents and I went south. We have long enjoyed the fireworks at Vincennes where they place the fireworks on the bridge and everyone gathers around the George Rogers Clark Memorial and its lawn to watch the sky. It’s breathtaking when I really think about it long enough, especially with the current political landscape of this Country.

Personally as a historian, a Hoosier… this location could not be more perfect for the ending of a beautiful 4th of July. We got on the grounds by 8:30 to find a good place and get comfortable. While sitting in a familiar spot memories came back from the past two decades of either sitting or laying on a blanket on this very grass.

Fortunately, I had my writing book and I tell you I wish I had it the previous night, but I had it and kept thinking that was it. Yet as soon as I put it back in my purse another thought popped up and I had to write it down. There are at least 10 different times I had to open my purse to add another thought in less than 2 hours of sitting and observing.

Are we really as divided as people saw we are? There may have been a slight decrease from the last time I saw these fireworks, but I was more observant this year.

In front of us were four chairs on the grass and then as if the guy just had to be a little different from the others. He sat his chair on the pavement and sat just off from the others, yet one could tell they were together. Within maybe half an hour or so of just sitting and observing the kids and people walking by us and threw more towards the water these people started a louder conversation.

She was talking to the young man in the 4th chair, she was sitting closest to the man who had to be different. He could just have not wanted to be in the grass, I suppose. Anyhow, she mentioned she was happy to hear the young man was taking ballroom dancing lessons. I was just casually listening. Since it was hard not to, being right behind them. He said he was excited about being able to dress up for it. The real moment I wanted to say something was when that woman mentioned her favorite song.

Hearing this what seemed like a family conversation about generational ideas was wonderful. It made me miss talking about this stuff with my own grandparents. A part of me wanted to say I love that song too, I am also a Big Band aficionado of String of Pearls. Plus I have the sheet music I wanted to interfere in their conversation with my thoughts. I was a coward; instead I took notes. Listening to this… warmed my heart.

A little while longer and after a few more families showed up and one set up shop to the left side of us some kids got closer to me.

I think I may have some sort of magnet for little kids. Tell me do Aunts somehow naturally come sourced with Aunt heat technology once their nieces and nephews are born? Do all kids just recognize Aunts and Uncles or just Aunts since they are way cooler? I really need to know this!

Don’t you?

Back to the kids though, there were three of them next to me. Literally a step ladder of sizes going downwards. The little girl was trying to stay up with the boys she went round and round with them but that last time she lost her shoe.

Seeing these various forms of families was the beauty of the day. No matter what was going on in any of our normal day lives we all hundreds if not thousands came to this very location in Vincennes to see the fireworks. A Fourth of July standard. While watching these various families I was also watching the horizon. and the coloring of the sky as the sun went down. Such a beautiful sight. Still at 9:25 there were some wide patches of grass left open and filling up at the same time.

There were even somewhat grown men with what looked like puppies. I saw two men and one sat somewhere in front of us more to the right of us. My niece would have certainly loved that.

Someone behind us had bubbles even. How fun, I caught myself thinking wow bubbles, where did they come from? Of course from behind us they were to help soothe some child’s demeanor for a bit.

Then at about 9:36 I noticed the lights dancing on the water. It was such a soothing effect for me being there sitting in the midst of all this surreal, being all together in a 5 acre or less I don’t know how big the Memorial is on the side we were on.

What would our Founding Revolutionaries think of our Celebrations…