The Fourth

Soon after we bought our house in Wakefield, Spike and I heard of the legendary Fourth of July parade through Wakefield Center.  It seemed fitting as the Fourth is one of our favorite holidays.  We've celebrated in years past by exploring Boston's Harborfest and then having people over to watch the fireworks.  But in all of those past years, one thing was missing... a parade.

I had grown up watching the parade in Berlin and being on the floats our church made, then marching in the high school marching band and handing out roses as a part of the prom court.  My father was even the announcer for the parade for a few years.  It was always a grand celebration and one that I missed in Boston. 

My excitement for the Wakefield parade was mounting as July Fourth drew near... only to be crushed when I heard that the parade had been canceled.  The planning committee was getting older and couldn't handle the stress of organization, but no one younger would step in and take the reigns.  There would be a smaller "Hometown March," but nothing that would live up to the parades of years past.  However, the fireworks display was still planned for the evening.  At least we wouldn't have to go without those!

In the end, our Fourth ended up being like Fourths in the past.  We took our bikes into Boston and rode with Lynchie around the city, where we saw the Constitution preparing for its annual turnaround,

we sat by the Boston Harbor and looked at the boats,

and we rode down an empty Storrow Drive.

And we had people over to watch the fireworks too!  Spike family came for a BBQ and then we went down to the lake to see the fireworks.  It was nowhere near as great as the Boston display, but a definite great end to a fun day!