4th of July @ Homewood

Wow! Another exciting night of fireworks... but tonight turned out quite different. This is about the tenth or eleventh year that my family has gathered to watch the fireworks in Homewood. There for a few years we were forced to alter our plans while the good old Vulcan was receiving a little nip & tuck. Anyway, we do it every year we can in the same place... right in the middle of the street in the curve in Homewood.

This year we were all there except for my brother Joel who has just moved to San Francisco and will be watching the fireworks from the Golden Gate Bridge I imagine. As we piled out of the caravan into the land of Patriots we made our way to the all familiar spot just above the ice cream man. Only this year, I barely got my stuff in place (chairs & cooler) before literally being mobbed by some of my students from Metro. There was Jessica, Mia, Caleb, Jacob & Jaida & Jim, Katelyn & Caroline, Nick, Scout, Logan, Aaron, Lucas, Hannah (x2), Emily & Elizabeth, the Potter trio, and others that I have surely forgotten unintentionally. It was awesome to see every one of them. It makes me swell with pride to see them maturing in their faith and in their ability to just not be so dang goofy.

Anyway, as the night progressed my stomach began to hurt almost unbearably. I cooked pizza quesadia's for the girls today and had two myself... coupled with way too much BBQ for dinner and I was brewing a small un-natural disaster. Literally just as the fireworks began I took off in a dead sprint for the closest bathroom I could find. Every store in downtown H'wood was closed right on the dot at 9 o'clock. Finally I ran into my friend Darrell who was outside Starbucks and I begged him to shoot me in the head, heart, or lower abdomen... any way I could get some relief would be perfectly acceptable at that moment. And wouldn't you know it, Starbucks was flipping closed. I grabbed the door with all my might only to be gravely disappointed that the door fought back. In the distance I could hear the bang of the fireworks that I was missing because of the fireworks in my belly. Finally someone opened the door to come out and like a sly lizard... I slithered my way in, past the counter, and down the hall where I met temporary paradise in the men's room.

So, without the details... let's just say that I will not forget this 4th of July... I did however miss almost the entire fireworks show. Good thing we went Wednesday night. I do want to take a moment to say thank you to all of the men and women around the globe that make sure day in day out that I remain a free American. And to all of those who came before me so that I might benefit from their sacrifice... Thanks and God Bless America!