We pulled into Manor Field

Tag : Smocking Dresses

As we pulled into Manor Field, I directed my husband to park in theback so we wouldn't be blocked in and could make a quick getaway tothe hospital. I wasn't due for a couple more weeks but I wantedthis second child to be born on the Fourth of July; after all, hisbrother was born on New Year's Day. I thought the big bangs wouldinduce more than a few "ohs" and "ahs." As luck would have it, wewere blocked in by a concession van until the last colorful sprayturned to ashes and the last hot dog lost its sizzle. My redheadedfirecracker son arrived on the 7th, not even close to my brother'sbirthday on the 2nd or my niece's on the 3rd.

Looking back to our Independence Day parades in the '30s and '40s,we might picture a toddler in a smocked dress made by Grandma. Hergolden ringlets would be gathered in a big white bow. She'd bepushing her doll carriage draped with crepe-paper streamers inunison with floats and jeeps. Her vanilla-scented mother, standsbehind her with cheeks as shiny and red as the apples she used inthe pie she has waiting on an enameled tabletop near the apron.Dad, with fedora over his heart, is ramrod strong with dark secretsof battles hidden under his thick brows.

A young whippersnapper might be alongside of the men marching inuniforms — police, fire, band and military. He'd be runningbeside the bass drummer leaping high with each beat as his sockswhip around his ankles. His floppy eared beagle may be nipping athis heels. Norman Rockwell could be at his easel in the villagegreen painting Skinny Longnecker into this scene.

And looking back to 1776, we will remember whence we came and taxour memories as to why we have this grand holiday to celebrate withfireworks, barbecues, concerts, flags and parades.

"When in the Course of human events . . ." and " We hold thesetruths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal . . ."

When these words were drafted by Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, BenFranklin at age 70 and other founding fathers declaringindependence for the 13 colonies, it was first given a John Hancockand then signed by our own Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple andMatthew Thornton at Independence Hall in Philadelphia on July 4,1776. But it left Jefferson, our third president, and Adams, oursecond president, with many years of conflicts and bitter feelings.While they did manage to reconcile, respect each other and tocommunicate amicably, Adams vowed, "I will out live Jefferson." Onhis deathbed on Independence Day, 1826 Adams uttered his lastwords, "Thomas Jefferson survives." Yet a few hours earlier, ThomasJefferson had also died — both who gave birth to a new nationdied 50 years to the day after July 4, 1776!

James Monroe, our fifth president, also died on the July 4, 1831. And in 1850, our 12th President, Zachary Taylor, afterparticipating in July 4th activities at the Washington Monument,became quite ill and died five days later on July 9.

Many battles later, always striving to keep our independence anduphold our democracy, we are the envy of many nations still struggling to gain their independence . Today our troops are in other nations by the side of that Iraqipoliceman protecting voters from firebombs, trying to deliver foodto a starving despot nation or manning a post in a demilitarizedzone in Korea. How strong our nation grew, what leaders we became, how tolerant aswe adapted. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

How liberated we, me , the female became! As I depress the last blueberry star into thewhipped cream finishing the flag cake, I pause to reflect . . .maybe someday soon we'll be strong enough to have a female . . .

Oh no . . . there she goes again! BANG! SIZZLE! POP, POP, POP! BOOM! SIS BOOM BAH!