i opted out of walking the few blocks which opened up a fireworks view. instead, i sat, as the night got darker, and listened. i listened to the colorless show. the rhythms and beats as the explosions grew closer together… until, the grand finale of sound. it was different listening rather than watching. and i think i really liked it.
i love the 4th of july with all of its red, white and blueness. i am still, however, on the look out for traditions.
when i was younger i remember asking my granny all about her life growing up in the 30s and 40s. i find that era wonderful. the hair. the dresses. the music. the patriotism. the posters. the radio broadcasts. she would always remind me about the rations. the worry. the separation. the loss. the death. it wasn’t glamorous, she reminded. your brother or fiance may never have come home, she’d say. but still i continued my love affair with world war II.
so this year, i made star cupcakes and we watched alfred hitchcock’s 1940 film foreign correspondent. it was typical hitchcock filmography but it had an added element of eeriness since it debuted before world war II had become world war II.
during the end scene the globe reporter broadcasts to a still neutral america while the credits rolled to the star-spangled banner:

the feeling at the conclusion of that black and white movie is what i imagined for my granny and my grandpa. that power which seems to be missing today – or maybe we just need to take the time to listen rather than watch the display.
>amen.
>wow.
>I love that picture. And I see a resemblance between you and your Grandma… it's amazing!
>I love the star cupcakes. And that picture is amazing. Great resemblance.
>Those cookies are super cute! I also listened to fireworks but did not delve into thought, wish I had now. Wish you guys could bring blokus over tonight!
>did you know that I called you and you hung up the phone? Why did you do that?
>Great post, Robs! That's pretty amazing stuff. What's up with you not posting these days? 🙂
>I am so glad I took that picture!!