Tracks In The Dust

03 Jul 2014

Childhood Memories of the 4th of July

It is that time of the year again where here in America we celebrate our Independence from the British. Independence Day (4th of July) also seems to serve as a time to acknowledge the “middle of summer” although that is far from technically correct.

It does seem to be a passage from the beginning of summer to heading toward fall, at least that is how I saw it when I was a kid growing up in mid-west America. It helped to mark time on the calendar until school started again.

As I grew up the 4th of July was one filled with fond memories of celebrating that was like no other holiday of the year.

The Cannon Shot

Warm weather mornings would start off with one exploding “report” we kids would call a “cannon shot” fired off at the same time in the AM at all of the city-owned parks. It was like a blast to remind us all that “in the dawns early light” the flag was still there. It would be followed by anticipation of the day which would include a very festive 4th of July parade through the heart of main street in downtown.

The Parade

It was a big parade, including several marching bands ( the mid-west was full of competing marching bands). They would play great tunes with huge horn sections and drums (drum and bugle corps I think they called them). It was always great. In between would be floats from local businesses, clowns on cycles, honorary cars with veterans from foreign wars, the Shiners, the Lions, the Mason’s, 4H … clubs and organizations of all sizes and shapes would participate. It was a cross section of Americana in the middle of the 20th century. The town would line up on the curbs and hours would pass before the fire-engine brigade would finish it up. [Actual picture below from that time]

The Cook-out (barbecue)

Later in the day my dad would rev up the charcoal grill (no gas grills in my memory existed in my yard or anyone elses those days) and he would rotate chicken on the rotisserie and mom would make various salads ( if you call jello salad, potato salad actually salads). It was “all good” on the screened in porch with refreshments and chips for us kids.

The Doll Buggy Parade

At some point there would be a neighborhood parade that would include a “doll-buggy” promenade of kids with their bikes and wagons with flags and crepe-paper and smiles as their parents looked on. Just a few blocks length, but the city would barricade the streets for the 15 minutes it would last- it was special to the families. Not sure how many of these happened over the entire city- but it seemed to happen in my neighborhood for many years- I think as a remnant of an earlier time. It finally stopped happening.

The Fireworks

Then lastly came the FIREWORKS! In my town since we lived on the coast of the Great Lake Michigan, fireworks were sent above the lake shore at dusk and it would seem the entire city would be there. They were always memorable, and when the bigger/grander one’s would explode you could hear a collective “ooo” or “ah” from the entire crowd down the beaches and parks that line the shore of the Lake.

Sparklers

When we would get back home we would lite sparklers on the lawn and dance around in complete awe. Long thin pieces of metal that would have sparkling chemicals that could actually get extremely hot. My mother would always caution to be careful to hold the end but not ever touch them. We would have a cold-water metal bucket to put them in when we were done.

Those are my fond memories of my childhood 4th of July. I think there are indelible snap shots in my mind.

Live people in “bronze makeup and stiff bronze-like costumes” would depict this memorial statue. Was always anticipated in the 4th of July parade

Posted in Doing Things That Will Change Your Life and tagged Happiness, Holidays, Independence Day, Marching Bands, Memories, moments, Old-fashioned Holidays, Parades, The 4th of July, tracks in the dust

01 Jul 2014

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Two Steeples

No one I have seen recently captures the vision of Americana the way Michael does. Take a look. Love this one.

Posted in Doing Things That Will Change Your Life and tagged Americana, Arts and Entertainment, Photography, Photos, Pictures of America

27 Jun 2014

Relax and Take It In

Just take the time to look around, and see what you have found.

I have to say it is hard to do. To stop and just appreciate the art of relaxation.

But then our lives are going so fast. For many of us meditation of the day is not on the schedule.

In these days of self-diagnosed ADD and ADHD we have come to leave it as an excuse then I suppose.

But there are times when it is just good to relax and take it in. I am going to plan on it.

Turn off your mind relax and float downstream.

Posted in Before and After Things Change and tagged Beatles, Meditate, Memories, moments, Music, Postive Thinking, Reality Check, reflection, Relax, Self-Awareness, Slow Down

26 Jun 2014

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Do You Remember Your First Record Album?

There is such an eclectic bunch of music going on in my head these days. I have been reflecting back on those days when I got my first “record player” and then again when I got my first stereo record player.

When I was a kid, I resorted to using my parent’s HI-fi console, complete with cloth covered speakers and walnut finish…and a spindle turntable with a drop down function that would allow you to play a number of 33 rpm vinyl records or with the adapter it would accept 45 rpm singles too. The sound was just incredible for its day (nothing like now of course). Once the tubes warmed, up it was a great way to blast the 15 watts of power I’d guess it had.

So I remember firsts with albums based on what it was played on.

On my parents console; “Introducing the Beatles” on Vee Jay records got worn out by the needle before I got a new copy. It was just the greatest album I had ever heard. Even remember begging my dad to loan me the money (under $4) to buy it at the local department store.

My first record player was all plastic, all in one portable player with 2 speakers ( but mono I think). When I got it I was certainly special to me. I shudder to think that anything would last long with the wear and tear the turntable would have likely induced. “The Monkees” first LP was introduced to my new portable plastic dream!

My first stereo was actually a hand-me down from my brother, but certainly welcomed as it was very “stereophonic” set, entrenched in my own room. A Zenith brand all in one system with separate speakers that fired upward with a cone-shaped thing above them to distribute the sound. The important thing with that was that was also the first time I owned “headphones” (take that Beats). The White Album by the Beatles became a favorite that Christmas season and I fondly remember the headphones making semi-permanent marks in my skull.

When I finally had a job of my own I invested in my first “real” stereo system, after shopping carefully and deciding I was never going to be able to actually afford the McIntosh equipment I fell in love with at the Hi-Fi Fo Fum, I did get my JVC amplifier and tuner and a great turntable from Technics (I wish I had- it was totally manual with a weighted platter- just what the DJ’s use today). The EPI bass reflex speakers helped to make “Pink Floyd” Dark Side of the Moon one of the frequent players. That system ended up fueling many house parties in the future before its retirement.

So I do remember my first record album, but I also recall the equipment that made it such.

Technically my first album I owned was probably a Perry Como album. But later in life, with 1000’s of LPs later, I fondly remember the music and the times.

What is your first recollection?

Posted in Life's Sound Track (Music) and tagged Beatles, being remembered, Change, Classic Rock, favorite albums, Favorite Music, LP Record, Memories, moments, Music, Pink Floyd, Record Albums, Rock music, The Beatles

20 Jun 2014

Perils

No doubt about it – there are going to be “perils” . That’s the term insurance companies use when they are talking about those “risks” we want to be insured against.

Things like illness, loss of property, accidents and inclement weather and all of those things that have a chance of happening at some point – so insurance companies what us to be “safe”.

But what amazes me most is that we work so hard to attempt to recognize them. But it seems we are always in denial. What ever the perils are we want to know about them, but we don’t want someone to stop us from being in the way of them.

We are good with the idea that today’s industries are polluting the world, but we are not willing to give up their benefits of energy and goods that make our immediate life easier.

There are so many ways we could be safer, could avoid some of life’s perils. But it seems that protection could come with the sacrifice of our freedom to experience them. So experience we do- and then we are amazed when people step into the perils of life and living. It becomes the fodder for Internet news daily.

But doesn’t it seem that we are always in denial of that fact that we could be “next”? Some poor person, group, country has made a blunder beyond belief, but we are always thinking that “that’s not me” and we will be just fine. No perils in our way.

Do you notice that there are always other “do gooders”: that are out there trying to help us avoid these perils? Yet we reject their help in the sacrifice for independence, for freedom. Maybe that is from our childhood? When we were young (and even as we got older) our parents and teachers would warn us of perils – “be careful” – “don’t do that” – but we would not listen. We would want to go ahead anyway.

We would desire our independence and work on our own to just avoid them, but we don’t. We embrace our freedom. Freedom to be stupid on our own perhaps. Freedom to make mistakes, and perhaps- just maybe- freedom to be ignorant of the reality of what is really important.