by Shawna Blake

Created on: June 21, 2008   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

With the thunder of fireworks filling your ears, while a soft summer breeze blows through your hair, the fourth of July is a always unforgettable. Having 31 of these celebrations already under my belt, selecting the one that stands out the most in my mind has proved to be not nearly as simple as I had originally hoped Since Independence Day is one of my favorite holidays altogether, that added to the impossibility of the decision. It was five years ago that my Independence Day evolved into an event that had it's own custom and traditions. Two things began that year, and remain what we do every year on the fourth of July. That was the summer of fun, and heat from all that I can recall from it. I will never forget that summer, nor the best fourth of July that I had ever had.

We attended a family reunion for my dad's side of the family, in a small town about an hour from where we live. Aunts and Uncles were there, both those we'd grown up with, as well as those we seldom met, or even knew. One of our uncles was sitting in a plastic lawn chair that Gran had just bought. As he was talking away, his arms crossed upon his chest, my sister and I heard a crack. One moment later, Uncle John landed on the dirt covered ground when all four legs of the chair snapped off. My sister and I tried unsuccessfully to hold back our laughter, as our Uncle stared at dismay at the green plastic remains of his chair. This particular uncle was a stern one, too, not the kind that you would laugh at if you could help it. This broke the ice in our relationship with him, and it was a good thing. For the very next day we were embarking upon our very first journey to the campsite that he and my father had just purchased and were building upon.

Clearly, our day had started out on a good note. We were entertained by our uncle and his faulty chair, and we were scheduled to witness fireworks downtown from the comfort of our boat. Never before had we witnessed fireworks from the middle of Lake Erie. When we climbed aboard "Sittin' pretty", the sun was still shining powerfully on the calm waters, and the heat was a bit oppressive. After motoring down the lake, we picked a key spot and dropped anchor at what turned out to be the perfect fireworks watching spot in all of Ohio. My sister, our stepbrother and I tightened the belts on our lifejackets and enjoyed dips into the cool waters to beat the heat while waiting for the show to start. It had already been a perfect day, and the water felt great while

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