I am not sure what it is about July but I think it is my favorite summer month on the Lake. Just as most other places, July starts out with a bang. July 4th is like the official kick off day of summer, even though school's been out since June.
In my family we would sometimes have a family picnic at my parent’s house with our Uncles and Aunts and Cousins. They would come over to enjoy the fireworks from our screened-in deck and it there wasn't a spectacular professional fireworks display put on as a city sponsored event (I didn't know those actually existed until I met my husband) that we could watch from the comfort of our home, but a local fireworks tradition, a neighborly, but all out war of who had the best and most fireworks.
In my family we would sometimes have a family picnic at my parent’s house with our Uncles and Aunts and Cousins. They would come over to enjoy the fireworks from our screened-in deck and it there wasn't a spectacular professional fireworks display put on as a city sponsored event (I didn't know those actually existed until I met my husband) that we could watch from the comfort of our home, but a local fireworks tradition, a neighborly, but all out war of who had the best and most fireworks.
Now in Minnesota, as it is in some other states, most forms of fireworks are illegal to the average Joe. There were just too many blown off hands to allow the goings on of unprofessional fireworks displays. Still, that didn't stop anyone on our lake from sneaking the best and the biggest from across the border, and I don't mean the Canadian border (we get drugs there but not our fireworks, as a matter of principal) no, instead we would get them from either Wisconsin or South Dakota.
When thinking about the lengths the neighbors and my Uncles went to achieve Firework Master Status I can see the true beauty of the annual war they had. It really was an homage to all 4th of July stood for. One simply did their best to last longer in their supply than any other on the lake. Hicks shoots off a fountain, Uncle Red shoots off a Johnny Jumper into the lake (which is spectacular to see), and across the lake the Jones shoot off stars and stripes. Back and forth they would take turns until last man standing.
As in all war children often get in the middle of the battle. Days after we were called upon to judge the best. We weren't always partial either to our families. In one way we declared our own winner regardless of who lasted the longest, but by the one who shot off the most of our favorites (mine were the fountains).
When thinking about the lengths the neighbors and my Uncles went to achieve Firework Master Status I can see the true beauty of the annual war they had. It really was an homage to all 4th of July stood for. One simply did their best to last longer in their supply than any other on the lake. Hicks shoots off a fountain, Uncle Red shoots off a Johnny Jumper into the lake (which is spectacular to see), and across the lake the Jones shoot off stars and stripes. Back and forth they would take turns until last man standing.
As in all war children often get in the middle of the battle. Days after we were called upon to judge the best. We weren't always partial either to our families. In one way we declared our own winner regardless of who lasted the longest, but by the one who shot off the most of our favorites (mine were the fountains).
Despite our own declarations of who the winner was it would never be truly settled and year after year the battle continued. The battle ground has changed slightly, new neighbors take on the mantle of the long war, but always with the same ambition of former battles. Who will be the best?
At long last I want to mention the other things that make July my favorite summer month: Pontoons and fireflies. You may see them at other times, but July is when I most identify with them. As with the fireworks display on the 4th of July during the day people on the lake would decorate and take out their pontoons for a 4th of July parade. They would make a trip around the lake either playing music or honking their pontoon horn.
It is nice to think that parades don't have to be sponsored by the city, or a business to be called a parade. A neighborhood parade of the people, who you share a bit of your world with, your nearest neighbors, is all it takes to make the 4th of July special; or anytime special for that matter.
Lastly, in saying good bye to the month of July I will end with two things: first, fireflies. Fireflies are their own little firework. They flit around the tall grasses like little lanterns searching for love. They have a brief light in this world and last only for a small moment in time. They represent the brief summer of our life and youth, which flits by in a moment. They are wondrous little things that can transform your back yard into a haven of lights like stars. My dad would sometimes help me catch them and keep them in a jar with a twig and grass to eat, but their light would only last the night. Far too brief.
And just like the brief light of the firefly, our lives are brief. We are only flits of light in this world. My second thing speaks to that, people. Just like yesterday for me has gone out I have today to look forward to, yet, there are many in my life who are no longer able to be a part of this world. Their light has irrevocably gone out.
I want to say goodbye to July, but in saying goodbye to July I want to remember Jim Graff who passed away recently. I didn't know Jim well, but he seemed like someone who enjoyed July well. I honor him as I honor those in my family whose lights have gone out. Their lights were spectacular to behold!
At long last I want to mention the other things that make July my favorite summer month: Pontoons and fireflies. You may see them at other times, but July is when I most identify with them. As with the fireworks display on the 4th of July during the day people on the lake would decorate and take out their pontoons for a 4th of July parade. They would make a trip around the lake either playing music or honking their pontoon horn.
It is nice to think that parades don't have to be sponsored by the city, or a business to be called a parade. A neighborhood parade of the people, who you share a bit of your world with, your nearest neighbors, is all it takes to make the 4th of July special; or anytime special for that matter.
Lastly, in saying good bye to the month of July I will end with two things: first, fireflies. Fireflies are their own little firework. They flit around the tall grasses like little lanterns searching for love. They have a brief light in this world and last only for a small moment in time. They represent the brief summer of our life and youth, which flits by in a moment. They are wondrous little things that can transform your back yard into a haven of lights like stars. My dad would sometimes help me catch them and keep them in a jar with a twig and grass to eat, but their light would only last the night. Far too brief.
And just like the brief light of the firefly, our lives are brief. We are only flits of light in this world. My second thing speaks to that, people. Just like yesterday for me has gone out I have today to look forward to, yet, there are many in my life who are no longer able to be a part of this world. Their light has irrevocably gone out.
I want to say goodbye to July, but in saying goodbye to July I want to remember Jim Graff who passed away recently. I didn't know Jim well, but he seemed like someone who enjoyed July well. I honor him as I honor those in my family whose lights have gone out. Their lights were spectacular to behold!
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