I've decided that since my brain has (marginally) already gone on vacation for the weekend, that I would blog about the 4th of July, and my favorite things. One of the reasons I am particularly distracted is that this is the first time in three or four years, I can't remember exactly...that I have the Fourth of July off, and I plan to spend it where I have spent about 21 of my 25 4ths... at the beach!!

Growing up my grandmother spent her summers on Martha's Vineyard, which is an island of about 20,000 off the coast of Massachusettes.During the summer months, the island inflates to a population of over 100,000 through Labor Day. There was always a slight clash between locals and summer folk. While I did not live on the island year-round, it always had a very close place in my heart, and by the time I was 13 I found myself spending my complete summers there, working at a diner and living with my grandmother, and later my aunt who became a full fledged islander when I was about 13.

When I was younger, my brother and cousins and I would always attend the parade, riding our bikes to different spots around the route to get as much candy tossed to us as we could carry. Afterwards we would BBQ, and as I got older I was allowed to attend the fireworks displays with my friends at the beach. Of the 18 Independence days on the Vineyard, I can honestly only remember one summer that it actually rained to the point that they had to cancel the fireworks. I was crushed over the fact that i had to watch the New York fireworks on TV.

One of my earliest 4th of July memories on the island was when I was about six. At the time we had a dock, that was about 200 feet long. My dad bought the biggest spool of firecrackers I have ever seen, about a foot and a half in diameter wide and rolled it down the dock. Before the city fireworks began, he lit them off and they took about 15 seconds to go off. All the boats in the harbour thought that it was amazing, and honked their air horns at a deafening level. I think my dad may have gotten in a little trouble for it...but it was worth it.

This year I am heading back to Daytona Beach, to enjoy another beach fireworks show...but I am a little concerned with the rain weather that has plauging the peninnsula of Florida. I am not so much concerned with it raining at night, rather it being too cloudy to fully enjoy. Last year I was in Dothan, and was very impressed with their show at the Family 4th Celebration at the Peanut Festival. We literally felt like we were underneath the show and that they were raining down upon us. No matter if there are clear skies or clouds this weekend, I am thrilled to be able to BBQ, enjoy the beach and see old friends.

So now I am curious, what's YOUR favorite thing about the 4th of July? Traditions? Meals? Feel free to share!

Oh, and incase you are worried about the weather in Dothan.....the fireworks should go off without a hitch ;)