July 4th

As I type this, there is a program on TV from NYC... the Macy's July 4th celebration and fireworks. I watched part of it... I will probably turn it on again when I go back downstairs. I have to agree with my cousin F, though-- fireworks on TV just aren't the same.

No fireworks up here in the Hill Country this year.... everything is just too dry, dry, dry. (Or "driiiiiigh," if you want the Texas spelling and pronunciation of that word.) Fireworks have been banned up here..... most counties have cancelled their night-time light-up-the-sky displays. Houston is the only city that I know of that's having fireworks tonight. I saw part of the Houston celebration on TV also-- the city's streets are jam-packed with party-goers willing to stand out in the 100-degree sun, waiting for their sunburns to kick in as the moon goes up and the fireworks follow the country music stars. Yee-haaawwww. (This party-goer is staying home.)

We went to Round Top yesterday afternoon for their annual July 4th concert. We went there last year, and I have to say this year's music selections weren't as lively and as well-received as last July's. They didn't play "Yellow Rose of Texas," for one thing-- and more than a few people stood up and requested that yesterday when the conductor asked for requests. (Memo to the conductor: Do not ask for requests if you're just going to re-play the last song on the program). Last year's audience was clapping, stomping, singing, smiling, flag-waving-- which did happen yesterday, but not all the way through, and not with last year's enthusiasm.

Half of yesterday's music was very nice-- patriotic and lively, with everyone clapping and waving the free flags that we were all given as we handed in our tickets. However, three of the music selections nearly put everyone to sleep yesterday, helped along with the not-too-cool air-conditioning in the building. They had a full house yesterday at Festival Institute... every seat, including all the balcony levels, was filled with a red/white/blue-covered Texan. "Women of a certain age" were fanning themselves with the programs..... and there was one music selection that just about put us all to sleep. Proof of that-- no one, not a soul, clapped at the end of that sad slow music. You could have heard a pin drop as the musicians turned their music sheets over to the next selection. The conductor quickly picked up on the non-enthused audience reaction and got the orchestra to playing the next song on the program.

Yesterday's concert was paid for by the BlueBell Ice Cream Company, and they were giving free ice cream at the end of the concert, but by that time, we were all just hot, hot, hot..... everyone was moving in slow motion towards the doors..... my husband found an empty row that we could zip through to a side entrance near where our car was parked, so off and out we went..... we had BlueBell in the freezer at home anyway.

This morning was the Chappell Hill July 4th parade, and that's right where we were..... lawn chairs set up in the shade, and I remembered to bring a lace fan from the house (very Victorian, very un-Texan, but it worked just fine). Every year, we go to this parade because we think it's so country, so small-town, so quaint, so cute. And it is all of that. But every year as we're driving home (again leaving early to get to our car before the rest of the crowd) we say the same thing: That parade needs music! The man who does the introductions and the prayer just cannot be heard! The parade needs music! Music! MUSIC! And this year, having just been to DisneyWorld recently, where they truly know how to put a parade together, we just sat there in the car on the way home and said "That parade needed Mickey Mouse!"

But on the bright side..... the best part of today's parade was the same as last year's best part: The World Famous Kids' Marching Kazoo Band. At least thirty little kids, all in matching tee-shirts, all with plastic kazoos in their mouths, belting out thirty different tunes at the same time. If that doesn't make you smile, then your smile is just plain broken. And why are those kids so good? Because they brought music (MUSIC!) to that quaint and quiet little parade.