For years (decades?)a family tradition has been to drag the nergabats (the children, bless their pointed lil' heads)to the local Army base on Independence Day for a day of wanton expenditure of Dad's paycheck on corn dogs, curly fries and shaved ice. We hang out until night fall, getting sunburned, freebies from local vendors, and blisters on our feet. There are clowns (no, I do NOT mean the MPs!), vintage cars (some people remember when owning a car was owning a work of ART!), inflatable and hard-metal rides, and some years static displays of military equipment (not this year; a brigade of soldiers was deploying to Afghanistan). Then we crowd into the sports stadium to hear a military band play music (not all of it patriotic)until sundown. Then the band plays Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture to the sound of the ceremonial artillery unit firing cannon. Then the fireworks begin, and go until 11 at night. It's a day guaranteed to make the nergabats sleep through the night while neighbors blow up the apartment complex.

Lately, because of my separation from my wife and the growing up of the young-uns, it has happened less often than I liked; just as well, since I suffer from a mild PTSD that still makes me wince at fireworks (Desert Storm, SCUD attack, Patriot air defence missiles. 'Nuff said.)This year, to my surprise, I was contacted by my youngest, P-, who asked if I'd like to bring my new grandson, Dakota, to Ft. Lewis for the fireworks. Of course, i was delighted. It was the first time 'Kota had ever been in on this family tradition, and he loved it! He went on a ton of rides, played the carnival games (winning half!), and chowed down on curly fries and shaved ice. At night he watched the fireworks through holographic glasses, his toothy grin on a freckled, slightly sunburned face. I felt the usual twinges of anxiety, but once an a while P- would touch my arm and say, "Dad, you're home." Then all would be right.

Sorry this is so long, but I love this time of year, even though I'm not substitute teaching. Can't you see why?