People's and Nature's Fireworks--4th of July
Trip Start
Jan 02, 2012
1
7
Trip End
Dec 31, 2012
Where I stayed
Garage Bar and Grill, Northville, MI
What I did
Fourth of July Parade
Northville, Michigan
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Northville really does love parades and the one on the Fourth of July was a big one. Even though it was quite hot and humid (94 but the heat index which adds the effect of humidity made it 101 at 10:00 AM. The heat affected the camera so many pictures were too blurry to be of any use. We had no idea that the heat could affect the camera.
In spite of the heat there was a wonderful crowd. We were at the third block of the parade and the whole parade was at least three times that length. I was very moved to hear the whole street go quite when the parade started with "My Country Tis of Thee" playing over the loud speakers. When the “The Star Spangled Banner” came on next, anyone who wasn't standing stood up, men took their hats off, and many people put their hand over their heart. There was great applause when the color guard came by with a representative from all our wars except WWI. There were two live marching bands and they are always good to hear in person.
You could get a spot in the parade as an individual or a group. There were many businesses, politicians seeking re-election, dance groups, boy scouts, martial arts clubs, schools, and churches marching as a parade entry. The entry I liked the best was called “An All American Boy”. This was a eight or ten year old boy marching along pulling his American Flyer wagon. I also liked the woman who has participated in the parade for twenty years. She rode on the back of a comfortable dressed as the Statue of Liberty. There was even a group of dogs as an entry in the parade. Almost ever parade entry threw candy to the crowd. The best “giveaways” were bottles of water and otter pops. The ice cream store right on the parade route gave out coupons for discounts on their cones. After about an hour of the parade Mary and I went in the shop to get out of the sun and found we could watch the end of the parade from their window. What a relief.
There were also several classic cars and cars from TV/movies such as General Lee from The Dukes of Hazard and the Ghostbuster Ambulance. The types of cars started with a Model T and went into cars from the 1960”s.
After the parade we took lunch to Joan and played Mahjong. Mary and I are getting better at it but we depend on Joan for the rules and how to set up the tiles. She is very patient with us! Later that evening Nature put on its own fireworks with a serious thunderstorm that had spectacular lightening and ear-splitting thunder.
Comments
Wew were big slugs, we didn't go to any firework displays or parades. Fortunately few big loud noises this year so Riley didn't have to spend the holiday in my lap this year. Happy 4th to youse guys. Miss you like heck
I miss you, too. Hey, I can dictate to my iPad without typing now. I can talk and then it's instantly put here. Isn't that just remarkable?