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My most memorable Fourth of July is the year that I was about 14 years old and we went over to my grandmothers for a pig roast cookout. All my aunts, uncles ,and cousins were there. I loved going to these family cookouts so I could spend time with all my family in one spot. My grandma's house is right on the river and it was always beautiful there. This particular cookout was an all day event as it takes awhile to cook a whole pig properly. So we would all get there at about 10:30 - 11:00 am and we didn't go home until after dark.

The day went like this: When we first got there of course us kids took off running to go play with our cousins or just hang around depending on our ages. See the yard was big enough for us to split into age groups mostly. Most of us were hanging down by the water waiting for them to let us go swimming but we had to wait. We sat there by the water and threw rocks in trying to get them to skip and see who could skip their rocks the farthest and watch the boats go by. We would play games and keep ourselves out of the way of the adults while they were getting the food ready.

By dusk we were ready to eat and my uncles built a huge bonfire to help keep the bugs away. After the eating was done the uncles and a few of their friends and the older kids would have a few beers only if they were old enough legally to drink, if not then you had to watch them have a good time. Anyway someone brought a car down to where we were in the yard so we could listen to music to and when it got dark enough my Uncle David set off the fireworks he brought home from his trip to Florida. They were just as beautiful as the ones the town set off. Then it was time to go home.

I spent the night that night with grandma and my cousin Nick and his drums. Oh we got in so much trouble with those drums that night. I guess 10:00 pm is not a good time to try and teach someone how to play drums outside. Grandma got a phone call and Nick and I got in trouble. That's just the way it goes I guess. Grandma's gone now and I miss those family cookouts. But I will always remember this particular Fourth of July.

Learn more about this author, Rosemary Recore.
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