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Thursday Thirteen #23

Thirteen things SUSAN remembers about July 4ths and Summer Vacations in the 70’s and 80’s:


1. July 4, 1974/5—We went to Riverhills Park for the city’s July 4th festivities. This used to include a parade followed by a day of entertainment and food and ending with fireworks. Because I cannot handle loud noises (including popping balloons) I would go across the street to my friend Judy’s house every hour on the hour to avoid hearing the giant cannon that they would fire.

2. Summer, 1976—I remember traveling to Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Virginia and West Virginia for the Bicentennial year. We visited many historical places and learned a ton about the birth of the United States.

3. July 4, 1977—My friend, Susan W., was at our house. I bought earplugs for the first time and went to the fireworks in Riverhills park. In years past I simply plugged my ears with my fingers until they were sore. The earplugs worked OK, but I still ended up holding them in with my fingers. We went swimming at Marie H’s. after the fireworks. I remember the water being hot (almost like a bathtub) because the outdoor temperature was SO HOT!

4. Summer of 1977—I am pretty sure this was also the summer we went to Atlanta to see Stone Mountain. We camped in a pop-up camper on top of a hill. There was a storm that seemed as if it would throw us right down either side of that hill. The thunder was the loudest I EVER heard as it echoed off of Stone Mountain.

5. Summer of 1978—My Mom took us to Ohio for a visit. I remember missing my friends at home so much! It was those awkward teen years when you really would rather be anywhere but with your family. I had a Burt Reynolds tee shirt that I wore much of that summer. We stayed at my Uncle Ron’s house…and I soon got over missing my friends and enjoyed visiting family.

6. Summer of 1980—I turned 16 in August and had a 16th birthday party. We held it at a friend’s condo pool and clubhouse. Several people from school came. There was a DJ spinning---YES---45 records! (For those of you who are too young to remember those, it was a type of record NOT the number of records).

7. July 4th, 1981—I worked at Busch Gardens as a ride operator. It was this day that we went to the beach and I fell asleep out there. I was burned to a crisp! It was one of the most painful sunburns I ever had. I was also taking a summer class, Problems in American Democracy (which was really a class on Communism), at my high school.

8. July 1981—By the end of the July 4th week, we realized the reason I had fallen so soundly asleep on the beach is because I had mono. I had to go to my Grandparent’s house to rest because my Mom said the phone was ringing and I wasn’t able to sleep and get the rest I needed. I learned to cross-stitch that summer at Grandma’s as I sat and watch Lady Diana marry Prince Charles.

9. Summer, 1985—I drove with two friends straight through from Florida to Pennsylvania for a Christian festival called Creation ’85. It was several days of teaching and bands playing. We camped out in a tent. It was a great event that I truly enjoyed attending…although I can’t believe we drove like that up barren I-95 with NO CELL PHONES or real contact with home. I am sure I gave my Mother a few gray hair’s that summer!!

10. Summer, 1986—I went on my first cruise with Dad and Carolyn. We went to celebrate my college graduation. It was Premiere Cruise Lines (the Big Red Boat)—which does not exist anymore. The cruise went to Nassau, Bahamas and also to some out islands. It was great fun.

11. July 4, 1987—I had just moved to Lexington, Ky. to be closer to my fiancé (now husband). We went to watch the fireworks in downtown Lexington. He was sweet enough to park far enough away so I could sit in the car and watch them from there. I remember it was VERY HOT…but the fireflies were out and it was perfect in so many ways.

12. July 1988—Dh and I were still living in Ky. We had a newborn baby (only eight weeks old) and we decided to go to Mammoth Cave. I have pictures of DH carrying DS 1 through that cave. DS 1 was great inside the cave…but when we brought him out…he wailed the rest of the afternoon! I am sure it had something to do with the heat outside (over 100 degrees) and the cave temperature (a constant 54 degrees) playing with his body temperature. We were young, what can I say?

13. July 4, 1989—We watched the July 4th fireworks in my hometown from the parking lot of Zayer’s. I could sit in the car and enjoy while the rest of the family could watch them like “normal” people do. I was 7 months pregnant with DS 2…and while I don’t remember the particular heat of that day…I am certain it was blazing hot in that car!!!

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