The Fourth of July has always been a day of celebration for our family.
When I was a kid, we had family reunions on the Fourth. We loaded up in the car and drove to Aunt Leone’s where there was always a pile of food stretched out on tables under the big shade trees, and a pile of kids to match. Cousins and more cousins showed up along with aunts, uncles, and grandparents.
Aunt Leone with sis and Bella
Old timers reminiscing of homestead days
After a time of playing on the old grist stones, playing ball with cow patty bases, and listening to the old timers tell their old tales, it was time for watermelon. My granddad always picked out a watermelon or two just for the occasion. It was not a quick choice. He turned the watermelon, inspecting all sides and the stem end. Then came the real test. He would lodge his middle finger behind his thumb, and then release the trigger, “Thump.” A “thump” sound was what he wanted to hear. If it made a “thud” sound, he would place the watermelon back and grab another. As a side note, when I was nearing the time of delivery of my children, I asked him to do the watermelon test to see if I was about ripe for delivery. His method worked!
Family gathering 
a pile of kids
There were other Fourth of July celebrations when we were away from our Southern home. Those family gatherings were at Aunt Barbara’s house. Food was stretched out under the old willow trees in the back yard. Not only did we celebrate the holiday, but we also celebrated Aunt Ellen’s birthday. My daddy declared that was “another important holiday,” and Aunt Barbara always made her famous cinnamon rolls for her sister’s birthday on the Fourth.
Here are some Fourth of July stories from my dad’s memories as a little boy:
Another Important Holiday
The Fourth of July is Sister Ellen’s birthday. We celebrate it every year.
Sometimes three carloads of friends come up to have a picnic. They always bring a watermelon. We make ice cream in our rebuiltice cream freezer. The porcupines ate the outside of the old freezer because it tasted salty. Daddy made a new outside out of boards. After the picnic he hides the rebuilt freezer in the closet where the porcupines won’t find it.
Some years we don’t have a picnic. Instead, we go to town and watch a parade. Men who had been soldiers march in the parade. A retired army Colonel tells them how to march, and the city band marches in front of them.
When I get big, I will watch a parade without having to peek between someone’s knees to see it.
The Fourth of July is important. That is the day when American leaders signed the Declaration of Independence and told GeneralGeorge Washing to go chase the British soldiers back to their boats. You should always remember the Fourth of July for that.
I have to remember it because it is my sister’s birthday.
