It was yard work for Saturday as our highly socialized daughter had some activities to attend. Then sensing my ever-growing need for family adventure, Mom proposed a surprise event.
My outlook being so low, I was given the privilege of being "in the dark" on the plans and destination, just like the other kids - the anticipation is 80% of the fun!
When our family truckster pointed toward Cave Spring, a small town near us that held a small fireworks event each year, the kids and I were pretty certain that we had discerned the plans and were fairly confident in our surmising. That is until we turned right toward Alabama and left behind the small mass of gathering people perspiring in the evening sun.
The secret was almost revealed when the Google Map R. had printed (we are not utilizing GPS technology at this point - primarily because I cannot stand one more voice telling me what to do when I'm driving) was unclear in its directions. R. called in reinforcements from someone who had been to our unknown destination and we got back on track.
About dusk we arrived at the 411 Twin Drive-In in Centre, Alabama.
Until I saw the plywood screen looming on the horizon, I hadn't figured it out. This was a great adventure, since it marked my first visit to a drive-in movie. As you may recall, my upbringing was sheltered and within the confines of some fairly strict religious codes. We didn't attend movies (except on two occasions when my school went and my teacher who attended church with us said it was probably okay) - but that didn't stop me from straining every ocular muscle I had to view the screens and read the lips of the actors when we occasioned to drive past one.
Anyway, we were please at the laid back family atmosphere of the place and the busy snack bar (with a "96" score on their Health Dept. inspection). With Mom and I seated comfortably in our outdoor chairs, and the kids nestled cozily in their bean-bag chairs in the back of the SUV, we enjoyed Cars 2 - despite the political implications.
Sunday evening, AA and I made good on one of those plans we had for a couple of summers... to attend a race at a local 1/2 mile dirt track.
Another father and son tandem - friends of ours- were going and knew their way around, so when they asked us to go, we agreed.
I liked the free-wheeling nature of the race track - we brought in our own snacks, refreshments, chairs etc. That "free-wheeling" attitude also extended to tobacco products. While I think it is very disingenuous for legislation upon legislation to be passed restricting tobacco use in public - while it is still a legal substance and while tobacco products are also the source of an enormous amount of tax revenue; I also enjoy not having to breathe the smoke and not having to watch my step for fear that my flip-flops may bog down into a puddle of Red Man.
We also were witness to a nice assortment of tattoos.
There was something thrilling though about the races, being that close and literally feeling the roar of the engines. It was quite an experience.
Because of the growing roster of participants and delays due to accidents, the night ran a little long. AA was quite a sport when he agreed to leave early even though there was at least one more race to go. It was after midnight, by the time we got home and showered the red Georgia clay off our sweaty bodies.
The actual 4th of July saw us making a trek to West Georgia to walk in an annual "Peoples Parade".
After a "Patriotic Breakfast" (note the Red, White and Blue)
We weren't certain about transportation arrangements, so I began to prepare the troops for the possibility of our having to retrace our steps back over the parade route after it was over. This would be approximately 6.36 miles we would have to walk in total.
Mom found that her typically demure nature was overridden by her sense of urgency toward sacrifice avoidance. With the same zeal that she displayed when she inquired about her epidural of every hospital employee that darkened the door of our first delivery room when Ab was getting ready to arrive - she seemed to feel little discomfort in approaching various individuals to ask about providing us transportation back to our car.
When the parade began, we were issued Frisbees and candy mints to distribute. . . .
...and the crowd didn't mind asking for them... in fact they became a little demanding at times.
5,000 Frisbees, that's about how many we distributed....
It really was an exciting morning and a proper way to celebrate this nation!
Other weekend hours were spent in yard work, sitting by the pool, bicycling, eating, worshipping and visiting.
We managed to get my Mom over for some grilling on the night of the 4th.
So I think we almost ran the gamut toward satisfying the respectable Mr. Adams wishes.
I hope your 4th of July weekend was equally memorable.
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