What a Strange Summer This Has Been, What a Strange 4th of July

People often ask me why we don't go away on vacation during the summer.  Well, being retired has the bonus of being able to go places offseason when there are fewer crowds and lower prices, two things very important to Liz and myself.

Plus, why go anywhere else when you have a great summer party right here with festivals, parades, bands and parties all over the Chain of Lakes area.

Well, this season, because of you-know-what.  So much canceled.

And, no baseball.  Not even minor league or Legion ball.

I did put out my U.S. flags yesterday and will leave them up until next week.  I usually always have one flying from the garage door frame all the time.  For the first time I can remember in 28 years, our neighbors across the street put out a U.S. flag  yesterday.

This will be the first time since 1993, other than one time when I was in Rome, Italy, with my family,  when we will not be watching our village of Spring Grove, Illinois, fireworks display from the front yard of our house.  We'll sure miss it, but definitely not the skeeters who have the 4th of July highlighted on their best bitin' days.

Most fireworks around here have been canceled due to you-know-what.  But, Spring Grove and Richmond (not to be  confused with that questionable city by that name in Virginia) are having a joint fireworks display at Richardson Farm in Spring Grove which also bills itself as the world's largest corn maze.

Sad, but no parades either, but if the last several weeks and last night are any indication, we will have plenty of neighborhood fireworks.

Sorry, Doggies.  --RoadBang