A week late, but here is my INDEPENDENCE DAY story. A true story for the most part, with a few changes made, due to my bad memory.
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INDEPENDENCE DAY

The bright morning sun was just rising over the distant hill. It looked to be a beautiful day. Being July, the temperature would probably be high, the humidity unbearable, and thunderstorms were predicted for late aftenoon. That didn't stop the town's people from working on parade floats. or putting up flags and banners in preparation for the days festivities.

Independence Day was a major holiday in our town. Families met together for picnics and parade watching, and enjoyed ending the day with the towns fireworks display. The fourth of July was a big event. It meant memories plus some heartache for friends lost, to be honored by the town.

That year, July 4, 2003, my husband had been asked to drive his bright red t-top Corvette, in the morning parade. Charlie wasn't one to show much emotion, but I could sense his looking forward to this day. He had spent the 3rd, another hot, blistering day, washing and polishing the vette, till it almost glowed. Seemed a lot of work, to me, but he enjoyed it, and it kept him out of the house ! I did not enjoy riding in the red attenion-getter, and dreaded him asking me to ride along.

Charlie enjoyed the ride immensley, since it hid the fact that he was handicapped. It was his way of feeling useful, when he could no longer work at the job he had been doing for more than 20 years. What I had feared, happened, he ask me to ride along !

Now, you have to understand how I felt. I 'm so short I could barely see out the windows, and with the t-tops off of the Corvette, my hair flew every which way. But, the parade route was long and would move slowly, so I figured that would not be a problem, plus a big pillow would bring me to eye level. Much against my wishes, I agreed to ride in the parade.

Time was drawing near for us to get in our place in the parade line. We drove away leaving the t-tops behind. a huge mistake !
No sooner did we get a few miles from home, till it started to grow dark, a few lightning streaks crossed the sky, and several big raindrops pelted us. No problem, Charlie said it wouldn't last long, not today of all days. Occasionally he was wrong, and this was one of those times.

It rained, oh how it rained, poured even and us with no roof over our heads ! Not much we could do but pull under the overhead highway, and wait it out. Thank goodness it was one of those short summer showers. Finally, it stopped and looking like drenched rats we proceeded on. I thought, to home. But, oh no, Charlie wasn't missing this parade he had so been anticipating. He drove to the parade location, and asked one of the officials where we should get in line.

This was not what I had bargained for ! We were soaked, the interior of the car was soaked, and my hair was not blowing in the wind, but plastered to my head like a helmet. He didn't have much hair, so no problem there. Luckily I saw my sister and her husband, scooted out of the vette and scurried into their van, waving at Charlie as I fled. Told him I would see him later at home, and to have fun, which he did.

I wish now I had stayed the course, because we lost Charlie to an illness, only a few months later. But, I am happy that he got to drive his dream car, and really enjoyed that Independence Day parade.
©NLB/Me Shell