Like many cities around the United States, our Independence Day was a little…off. But despite New Jersey being in lock down, we had a pretty great 4th of July this year.
Our borough didn’t have a parade this year. Which to be honest, was kind of nice. We love bringing the kids to the parade and watching them scramble around at the curb to get as much candy as they can, but after that, it’s all down hill.
Our borough has an event after, which would be fun except that it’s in the middle of the park ball field with zero shade. We can usually only bear it long enough for free ice balls, cotton candy, pizza, and a couple blow up attractions, and then we have to get our sweaty asses out of there.
Since we couldn’t go to a parade, we brought the parade to us. Christy and I grabbed a couple bags of candy we have for kids treats, some Red, White, and Blue Twinkies and drove around the block about 6 times blaring music and throwing candy at the kids while they stood in front of our house. We topped it off by parking down the block and walking up the middle of the street with bottles of water to pass out. It was a great time. I just wish we had some Jefferson Hospital stress balls to throw at them.
After that, Christy and I pretty much relaxed while the kids ate candy and played video games until the baby woke up. Then it was time for one of my favorite past times. Sit outside with a cold drink in the heat and listening to music while the smoke from the coals billow into my face.
After the smoke died down and the coals were getting going in the chimney, I blew up this little pool we had in the shed and filled it up for the baby. He was reluctant at first, but once he warmed up to it, he had a great time splashing around.
For dinner, we went all out. I bought a couple packages of Impossible Burger and grilled that up with some corn on the cob, shish kabobs, and Aldi Earth Grown Italian Sausage. Of course, no one ate the sausages that night. Everyone one wanted an Impossible Burger. Those things are really amazing. I don’t know how they did it.
Then we ended the night with some fireworks. I got a box from Phantom Fireworks in PA and it was pretty impressive for only $50. I think I was having more fun than the kids because they were good after awhile and I was saying “Just let me set off the rest of these bottle rockets.” That fact was proven to me when I wanted to set off the rest on Kids Day and the only two that thought it was a good idea were me and the 5 year old.
All in all, despite COVID, it was pretty much a perfect Independence Day. Actually, it was a wonderful weekend. One of the best I’ve had in a while.
How did the lock down affect your Independence Day? Was it a disappointment or were you able to find new ways to make the day fun, like having your neighbors wonder why the hell you keep driving around the block with the stereo all the way up and honking your horn when you got in front of your house?