"This was not the first 4th of July which was a bust due to the weather. Not just with us, but also with many other events nationwide. But good weather or bad weather, fireworks or no fireworks, the significance of the day still stood out bravely against the weather. 250 years young. We are a great nation with a great heritage. That is something to celebrate, rain or shine, light or dark."
When our kids were small(er), and we were going to do some fun family outdoor event, my wife and I could make sure all the random variables were under control to ensure a smooth and fun time. That is - everything except the weather. Many times, I would have to tell both daughters that dad can control many things, but not the weather. Did that help mollify the masses? Not much.
The main event, the frosting on the cake (so to speak) for our 250th birthday, was the big show on the mall, a speech by POTUS, and then the final fireworks event. Months and months in the planning, many dollars spent, and then - nada. Why? There was an unwelcomed visitor who showed up at the event. Who? Mother Nature, bringing storms, winds, lightening, and so forth. The event was postponed and then cancelled. Why? Everything was controllable - except the weather.
As for my family, the air started going out of the holiday tire in the very early hours of the fourth. I had checked the radar before we retired the evening of the 3rd, and even with that, my wife was concerned. Why? Everything, and I mean just about everything we usually keep covered and tarped was left out, unprotected. It was such a drop-dead gorgeous evening, I thought - why not? We went to bed, and everything was fine. Then it happened. Out of a sound sleep, it sounded like somebody was spraying the trailer with machine gun fire. At 2am, for a bit over an hour, it rained so hard, all other noise was blotted out.
I was the first one up in the morning. I looked outside. Everything was soaked. The other guests were coming in at 10am, so I had my work cut out. I did have some dry chairs in the shed, but still - it was a mess. But the day happened, and we made the most out of it. The kids? They always have fun, so that part was fine. But then in late afternoon, the skies got dark again. We had a quick taco meal, and my daughter, husband, kids and dog were going to get while the getting was good. They left, and no more than five minutes later the skies once again opened up. All those parties and events scheduled for the evening of the Fourth? Kaput. Why? Everything is controllable, except the weather.
We were going to stay the night on the Fourth and come home sometime during the next day. But the rain was pounding (again), and the radar was all lit up. We saw a small opening in the storms, decided to pack up and get out of Dodge (so to speak). We loaded a few essentials in the truck and hit the road. About ten minutes into our trip, the skies once again opened up. I was once again reminded of that old Bob Dylan hit; A hard rains a going to fall. And it did - all the way home.
This was not the first 4th of July which was a bust due to the weather. Not just with us, but also with many other events nationwide. But good weather or bad weather, fireworks or no fireworks, the significance of the day still stood out bravely against the weather. 250 years young. We are a great nation with a great heritage. That is something to celebrate, rain or shine, light or dark.
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