Memories

AS WITH EVERY FOURTH OF JULY, I CAN'T HELP BUT WONDER HOW DIFFERENT THIS DAY WOULD BE IF JANICE HAD LIVED.

GROWING UP, I REMEMBER MOM TAKING US TO SEE THE FIREWORKS AND HOW IN AWE I WAS. I KNOW I WAS YOUNG, BUT REMEMBER BEING AT THE WATERFRONT SOMEWHERE, I WAS SITTING ON THE HOOD OF THE CAR AND MOM WAS STANDING NEXT TO ME WITH HER ARM AROUND ME.

I ALSO REMEMBER DAD BARBECUING IN THE BACK YARD, IT SEEMED LIKE HE WAS OUT THERE ALL DAY. BUT THE FOOD WAS WORTH THE WAIT.

I DON'T RECALL SEEING FIREWORKS AT THE WATER UNTIL I WAS A MOM AND TOOK THE KIDS TO DETROIT ONE YEAR, THOUGHT WE WOULD BE KILLED BEFORE WE GOT OFF THE ROOF OF COBO, BUT THE SHOW WAS WORTH IT. THE ANTIQUE PICNIC BASKET THAT MATT SAT ON AND BROKE IS STILL HERE, BUT WE NEVER WENT BACK DOWNTOWN AFTER THAT.

I HAVE SEEN FIREWORKS IN MELVINDALE, WYANDOTTE, COLDWATER AND ON GUN LAKE AND MARBLE LAKE. BUT NO MATTER WHERE I AM WATCHING THEM I OFTEN WONDER WHAT MY SISTER, ONE THAT I DON'T REMEMBER MEETING
{ DID SHE EVER SEE ME ?} HOW MUCH SHE WOULD HAVE ENJOYED THEM.

WHAT A DAY TO HAVE FOR A BIRTHDAY. WHAT A FINISH TO A BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION. YOU CAN'T TOP THAT ONE.

SO TONIGHT, AS EVERY YEAR BEFORE, WHILE WATCHING THE BIG SHOW IN THE SKY, I WILL ONCE AGAIN STARE INTO THE NIGHT SKY AND WISH JANICE FAYE A HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND IMAGINE HER LOOKING DOWN AT ME.
LOVE YA SIS, RITA