4th of July

In our family we have this thing about traditions. I'm the instigator of most of it. But once a tradition is established it must be followed at all costs. And we have a bunch of them.

One such tradition for the last many years to go see fireworks on the 4th of July while sitting on the banks of the mighty Mississippi River. They are set off on a barge in the river at the I-10 bridge in Baton Rouge. We sit on the opposite side on the levee with the state capital lit up in the back ground and the fire works show before us.

Well the last two years had not gone so well. Two years ago something blew up on the barge right at the start and the show was ended right then. Then last year the show was just a dud, seeming to just end mid stream. So when it came time this year I was thinking maybe it was time to skip the show, avoid the 30 minute drive, and just do our own little show that always follows instead. The adults were all for this.

So I go to take the consensus with the kids asking them what they want to do? They answered, its a tradition, we have to go. Enough said, lets go...

This year the show the most spectacular we had ever seen. Several times we thought we were in the big finale only for the show to slow down and keep going. I guess the organizers knew the last two years were disappointing and were making up for it. Even after all was finally done and we were all leaving one more shot off. As if to put the exclamation mark on the end.

Thanks kids. It was a great, traditional 4th of July.

As it should be...