July 4th, 2010

Here's Joy's take on the weekend:

"July 3rd found Grandpa & Grandma, Uncle James and Ethan, Uncle John, and our family enjoying the 80-90 degree weather by swimming, boating, playing tennis, and riding bikes. Grandpa organized Sunset Pines’ (our cabin name) first annual Duck Race, in which we lined up our ducks and splashed them (without touching) towards the finish line. Uncle John was the grand winner. Grandpa also brought out empty plastic barrels, which were fun to roll over.
Grandma was almost finished frying the morning’s catch (with Uncle John’s 22 inch walleye!) when the oven switched off. The house went dark. The fans stopped blowing.
It was nearing sundown and no amount of flipping the switches on the circuit breaker was helping, so candles were found, the uncooked fish put away, and supper eaten outside. Nobody worried as the sunset cruise played out as usual. I am quite sure the kids thought it a grand adventure and the adults thought it a bearable torture.
Our neighbor graciously allowed us to plug in our refrigerator, a fan, and a lamp via extension cord. Grandpa’s fireworks lit up the night. James made a bright, toasty bonfire. Jerry and the kids took a delicious swim in the cool water and warmed up over the fire, toasting marshmallows and smacking on smores. Eventually Ryan and Ethan retired to their tent, and I played shadow games with them. Jeffrey and Mark also eventually retired to their tent. The adults sat in the half-light of a single lantern and told stories about old adventures, until, at last, the day was put to sleep.
Grandma and I woke up to rain spattering through open windows. A flurry of action ensued. Windows were banged shut, clothes were snatched off the rail, damp campers arrived inside, James raced out to bring in the tents, and Grandpa’s umbrella was battered mercilessly by the wind.
By the time the action stopped, it was 6:15. Some went back to bed, others stayed up. An electrician fixed the line and the power was back on about 9 o’clock. By 10, everyone was awoken and we set out for a hearty breakfast after a hard night.
Our favorite restaurant was packed, to everyone’s dreary disappointment, and McDonald’s was the next best thing.
Anna and I had just finished our food when we saw one of our friend’s from church, who told us she was heading up to her Grandma’s house for the 4th. After that Anna and I ran over to the Curio, who was having a sale. Everyone soon joined us and we bought taffys and sucking sticks. Christina found a new sweatshirt.
At home, I made strawberry-blueberry smoothies. Everyone enjoyed them. Grandpa took a siesta and then Jodi, Tirzah, and Armin arrived – just in time for the 4th of July boat parade. We hold 3 trophies from said event. We didn’t compete this year – I guess having 4 trophies would have sort of ruined the mantelpiece.
The parade was just finished when suddenly there was a great crack and Grandpa sunk a foot as the dock cracked. Others grabbed his hands and pulled him away from getting a wet dunking. Apparently there had been a weak spot and the glue hadn’t held. The guys donned swimsuits and took the section of dock out, where it is awaiting repairs.
Though 4th of July 2010 may have seemed like a prolonged streak of bad luck, but to us every moment was an adventure and an exercise in appreciating all that we have in America."