"Happy Independence Day-2021"

One of many fruit salads I make for my wife...

 Happy 4th of July, everyone.

Although I parked too far away from the park, the Fourth of July celebration called, "Sparks in the Park" was worth the trek. En route, I saw Tim Lantrip waving to me on Columbia Street as he drove by.

"Haven't seen you in a while. Why don't you drop on by," he yelled.

He's right. I've been kinda incognito for a while now!

The park was packed with lawn chairs facing in the direction of the bandstand and with good reason. The Covington Concert Band was phenomenal playing stirring patriotic classics by noted American composers including John Phillips Sousa.

Since I had never been to the park, I grabbed a beer and strolled around. There wasn't anyone I knew, which was alright with me. Mayor Mark Johnson with the assistance of Amy Tucker did a bang up job putting the show together.

As the evening grew darker, kids with glow sticks and necklaces became more noticeable as they seem to run in and out of the trees and the audience. People in their seats also lit up their faces blue messing with their cellphones. All we needed to further light up the night would have been fireflies.

Later in the night, the sky would be all lit up!

One man dressed completely in black was wandering to and fro with his iPad. Willing to give up my spot next to a large tree, I walked over to see what he was doing.

It turns out he was the band's sound engineer using his iPad as a mixer board. Eventually we got to talking about the music and the genre of marching music. He told me of all the songs that were played so far, Richard Roger's "Victory At Sea" gave him goosebumps.

Though I could have, I refrained from telling him how I was as a seven or eight year old, starting my summer vacation listening to the main theme of that NBC soundtrack. With my clothers folded and put away and having made my "bunk" military style, hung my "Fanner Fifty" pistol and holster on the bedpost.

Dusting away the dust bunnies from under the bed and setting my shoes perfectly under, but in line with my bed, I'd finish up with a salute, at attention, as the main theme of the soundtrack faded away with that great rolling wave ending.

I don't remember when it all stopped. It was probably the start of school or a hurricane... or whatever. I just remember the feeling of being disciplined and having my day starting off in the right direction.

Ah, the Fifties.

Copyright 2021/ Ben Bensen III