For the Fourth of July, we had a small gathering of family at the house. At this point in life, I’m no longer interested in the loudness and grandeur of explosive fireworks. I prefer the calmness and simplicity, of merely sharing food and togetherness.
We had a nice spread of barbecued meats, baked beans, coleslaw, Morgan’s famous eclair desert, and one of Keith Schilling’s sweet watermelons. The front porch was filled with family, food, and Americana decor. I told y’all, last week, that I’d been crafting. After filling up the inside, it was bound to leak out, and onto the porch. And with the fourth... I hand painted and hot glued enough red, white and blue creations... that I felt like a star spangled psycho. Before it’s over, I’ll probably be crafting together some fake trees... to poke amongst the real ones in the yard. Nah. Halloween will be upon us soon enough, and I’m already planning on making styrofoam pumpkins.
We even bathed Roscoe, for the occasion. Lord, I love him... but he has to be the stinkiest ( Mama would say ‘stinkinest’) dog that’s ever ran on four legs.
After eating, Sugar and her little cousin, Karsyn, ran off to the swing set... each one, carrying a slice of watermelon. After awhile, we looked over, and saw that Sugar was crying. She had fallen off of the swing. Thinking she was hurt, we immediately began the interrogational process of ‘Where does it hurt? What did you land on?’
She looked up with sad little blue eyes, and pooched out, pouty lips and said ‘I dropped my wawermewon (watermelon)’. Sure enough, there it lay on the ground, covered in dirt, with a hungry and grateful fly on top.
‘Aw, Baby, that’s okay. We’ve got more watermelon. You want another piece?’
‘No. I wanted ‘that’ one.’
Good Lord.
And with that, all that could be done... was to comfort her, in her moment of bereavement.
After much eating, many tall tales, and a dead slice of watermelon... it was time for everybody to go home. What was left was watermelon rinds, a still stinking dog, and a whole lot of quiet. But most of all... was another day of precious memories; created and crafted, much like styrofoam pumpkins... but much, much more lasting.
Hoping that y’all had a wonderful and blessed Independence Day.
