Memoirs of a Geezer!
Reflections and Observations -- A Bright Passage from the Fantasies of Youth
to Illuminations of Advanced Maturity!
This Episode: The Noisiest Holiday... Longest, too! *
For the past 41 years straight, including 2016, this geezer and family have enjoyed the obstreperous celebration at Milwaukee's fabled Lake Front, namely the 3rd of July Fireworks
explosions, sponsored by some financial institution or other. What a day-long event it is, and has been over time. We play, we picnic, we sing and dance... we even cavort! It's a dashedly, wizardly fine time! Ask anyone!!
Among the joys of the 3rd is the extraordinary diversity of humanity (and possible extra-terrestrial beings) in attendance, endlessly parading back and forth along the various promenades... sidewalks on the periphery of and within the confines of Juneau Park. Just this past July, I'm certain I saw Darth and Dorothy Vader, for example. I accosted them,
just to convey greetings. Darthy (that's what I call him affectionately!) told me they'd just come from the annual Death Star Sock Hop, but hoped to retain their anonymity as they enjoyed the evening's pyrotechnics. I promised not to point them out to the multitude! (Their children were apparently being minded and babysat by Mynocks and Space Slugs!)
And there are certain traditions in our family's annual participation that cannot be ignored. The grandchildren, particularly Lucy and Phia, enjoy pasting small stickers or decals to my sunglasses until my vision is completed obfuscated. The boys, Coen and Sean, enjoy jumping upon my person to see if I can emerge from the event without
too many bruises and broken parts! Oh, I tell you, it's all a portion of the rich pageantry of this marvelous event.
Speaking of obfuscation, one year the fog was so dense we could but hear the explosions. We imagined they were quite a spectacle, though they were not visible behind the fog! One astute person announced, "These are best darn fireworks I've ever not actually seen!"
The day invariably consists of games -- including "How's Yours?" -- a delightful romp in which a person is sent away while the others select a body part, the object of the ensuing guessing contest. The "sent-away" party is summoned back and made to ask each participant, "How's yours," until the object body part is correctly ascertained. (Sometimes the clues and the guesses become a bit ribald, but the fun never stops... happily, the vulgar references most often sail over the crania of the small children in attendance! Uh, don't they... What's all that whispering over there??!!)
There are treats aplenty. Homemade cookies, crisped rice bars in patriotic colors, various kinds of brownie-style treats, cupcakes. And fresh fruit, too, of course. It would be criminal not to enjoy the yummy delights of fresh summer fruit -- strawberries, blueberries, red grapes, kiwis and calabashes! (Don't tell me you don't include a calabash or two among your July 3rd comestibles??!!)
One of the most anticipated joys of the 3rd Fireworks display is the attempt to find an outhouse with actual paper still available in its holder! Oh yes, and then there's the outdoor, ersatz living room established by two giants of annual attendance, "Captain Billy" and "Acquisitions Andrew." The latter scours the city in search of discarded furniture that can be gathered up and transported to Juneau Park for the comfort and viewing pleasure of family, friends and visiting dignitaries (such as a certain geezer and his entourage)!
Throughout the years we've started the celebration by "staking our claim" to a portion of the Park, and setting up our enclosure with string and "Do Not Cross" tape coiled around stakes hammered into the earth. People are remarkably respectful of "staked claims." The day begins quite early (* hence, the "Longest"!) and ends well after darkness descends. Immediately following the pyrotechnics, the mad and frenzied exodus begins as thousands gather belongings and trample one another as they rush to parked vehicles, bicycles, horses, mules, buses, space ships and other conveyances in crazed, snarling efforts to be first to reach their modes of transportation without being killed or maimed in the process! We usually wait a bit, and then amble along slowly and respectfully before being knocked down and trampled in the stampede. All part of the rich pageant of... well you get the idea, I'm sure...
Usually, we do not attend a second display of pyrotechnic patriotism on the actual 4th, but this
year was an exception. Dear friends Dennis and Carol were in town from Nevada staying with our beloved niece, Susie, her spouse, Tom, and children, Tucker and Jack. Both Dennis and Carol have a bit of difficulty with long and arduous walks, hence Susie provides wheeled chairs and human capital to move the pair from parking spaces to the viewing spaces. Always a rich treat to see and spend time with the aforementioned. We danced, we sang with Ms. Amy, we oohed and aahed, our senses dazzled once again by the booming and brilliant explosions in the skies above us.
Each year Sweetheart and I insist we're not going to attend the 3rd of July Explosions, but then our daughter, Alie, insists that we cannot break the tradition. We relent. But, there's been a possible concession to our elderly complaints about long hours seated upon the earth, packing up all the stuff that's needed, hauling our wagon full of blankets and coolers and signage (Our Staked Claim and Claim Number!), stakes, a hammer, parking challenges, bicycle riding... sometimes. We may actually be permitted to arrive at the Park a bit later than our usual quite early "clocking-in" hour. More time to rest, take a nap maybe, slurp our porridge or gum some soft stuff like mashed potatoes or mush! Well, all in all, it's been a great run at 41 years and counting. We look forward to many more, not to mention cupcakes and mixed nuts, calabashes, cookies...!
Questions: 1. What are your favorite memories of the July 3rd Fireworks at Milwaukee's Lake Front, Dear and Noble Reader?
2. Do you barbecue?
3. Do you pack a lunch to bring sandwiches in a cooler?
4. What are your favorite or best treats / desserts that you bring to the event?
5. How many years have you been attending this fine event?
Post Comments Below, as Desired:
For the past 41 years straight, including 2016, this geezer and family have enjoyed the obstreperous celebration at Milwaukee's fabled Lake Front, namely the 3rd of July Fireworks
Among the joys of the 3rd is the extraordinary diversity of humanity (and possible extra-terrestrial beings) in attendance, endlessly parading back and forth along the various promenades... sidewalks on the periphery of and within the confines of Juneau Park. Just this past July, I'm certain I saw Darth and Dorothy Vader, for example. I accosted them,
 |
| Darth-y and Dorothy ("Dot") Vader enjoying the 3rd of July pyrotechnics "Noise-a-Rama" at Milwaukee's famous and fabled Lake Front! |
And there are certain traditions in our family's annual participation that cannot be ignored. The grandchildren, particularly Lucy and Phia, enjoy pasting small stickers or decals to my sunglasses until my vision is completed obfuscated. The boys, Coen and Sean, enjoy jumping upon my person to see if I can emerge from the event without
 |
| Lucy (at top), Hanna (left), Phia (on Papa's lap), and Papa rendered sightless by stickers! Such Fun! |
Speaking of obfuscation, one year the fog was so dense we could but hear the explosions. We imagined they were quite a spectacle, though they were not visible behind the fog! One astute person announced, "These are best darn fireworks I've ever not actually seen!"
The day invariably consists of games -- including "How's Yours?" -- a delightful romp in which a person is sent away while the others select a body part, the object of the ensuing guessing contest. The "sent-away" party is summoned back and made to ask each participant, "How's yours," until the object body part is correctly ascertained. (Sometimes the clues and the guesses become a bit ribald, but the fun never stops... happily, the vulgar references most often sail over the crania of the small children in attendance! Uh, don't they... What's all that whispering over there??!!)
There are treats aplenty. Homemade cookies, crisped rice bars in patriotic colors, various kinds of brownie-style treats, cupcakes. And fresh fruit, too, of course. It would be criminal not to enjoy the yummy delights of fresh summer fruit -- strawberries, blueberries, red grapes, kiwis and calabashes! (Don't tell me you don't include a calabash or two among your July 3rd comestibles??!!)
 |
| This could be an actual image of discarded furniture, of the type secured annually by "Acquisitions Andrew" with the blessings of "Captain Billy"! (Photo entitled, "Frayed but Functional"!) |
Throughout the years we've started the celebration by "staking our claim" to a portion of the Park, and setting up our enclosure with string and "Do Not Cross" tape coiled around stakes hammered into the earth. People are remarkably respectful of "staked claims." The day begins quite early (* hence, the "Longest"!) and ends well after darkness descends. Immediately following the pyrotechnics, the mad and frenzied exodus begins as thousands gather belongings and trample one another as they rush to parked vehicles, bicycles, horses, mules, buses, space ships and other conveyances in crazed, snarling efforts to be first to reach their modes of transportation without being killed or maimed in the process! We usually wait a bit, and then amble along slowly and respectfully before being knocked down and trampled in the stampede. All part of the rich pageant of... well you get the idea, I'm sure...
 |
| Sweetheart, Perpetrator, Alie, Bethie, Phia, Lucy, Coen (top to bottom, l to r) |
Usually, we do not attend a second display of pyrotechnic patriotism on the actual 4th, but this
 |
| Susie (at top), Dennis and Carol |
 |
| Perpetrator and Susie play Cribbage! Coen looks on in admiration, possibly! |
Each year Sweetheart and I insist we're not going to attend the 3rd of July Explosions, but then our daughter, Alie, insists that we cannot break the tradition. We relent. But, there's been a possible concession to our elderly complaints about long hours seated upon the earth, packing up all the stuff that's needed, hauling our wagon full of blankets and coolers and signage (Our Staked Claim and Claim Number!), stakes, a hammer, parking challenges, bicycle riding... sometimes. We may actually be permitted to arrive at the Park a bit later than our usual quite early "clocking-in" hour. More time to rest, take a nap maybe, slurp our porridge or gum some soft stuff like mashed potatoes or mush! Well, all in all, it's been a great run at 41 years and counting. We look forward to many more, not to mention cupcakes and mixed nuts, calabashes, cookies...!
Questions: 1. What are your favorite memories of the July 3rd Fireworks at Milwaukee's Lake Front, Dear and Noble Reader?
2. Do you barbecue?
3. Do you pack a lunch to bring sandwiches in a cooler?
4. What are your favorite or best treats / desserts that you bring to the event?
5. How many years have you been attending this fine event?
Post Comments Below, as Desired:
Humbly Submitted 08-18-16 -- Joel K.
