One of the best days during the summer is 4th of July. I love it. Growing up, my aunt and uncle lived in Bexley on the parade route. So, my family would head over, either on bike or drive by side streets to get to their alley to park in the back of the house due to all of the crowds. They would always have yummy food for us to help ourselves to, starting with a local favorite, Block’s Bagels–the best bagels in town. Plus at least two flavors of cream cheese to smear on those great bagels. My aunt would make sure there was fresh coffee, because she was a huge coffee lover and was always brewing a pot for herself and anyone else. They’d have a red and blue berry salad, a couple of quiches and drinks.
Then we’d gather our patriotic plate of goodies with our stars and stripes napkins and red and blue plastic forks and knives and head to the front lawn to watch the Bexley 4th of July parade. I don’t think you understand how nostalgic this parade is. There are so many floats and participants year after year that we look on and know that oh, here comes the Alladdin mini cars or here comes the Bexley High School reunion trailer with class of 1983 or 1992 or 2007 or here comes the Eastmoor Pool float with all of the ten and under swimmers throwing Tootsie rolls and shooting parade goers with their water blasters.
I remember when I was in the 8th grade, my aunt, the same aunt who invited us every year to come to their house for the awesome parade, asked me to ride with her when she won teacher of the year at Bexley High School. I got to sit next to her in a red convertible and wave to everyone and I got to throw candy. What a great memory.
So, this past year, Josie asked if she could be in the parade with the Eastmoor Pool. We parked as close as we could to the float line-up, which was not very close and walked maybe a mile to get to the pool float. We had picked up two bags of grocery candy that morning and Josie was so excited to have it with her. I dropped her off with her school buddies, who also happened to be on her swim team and several moms and Tony, the swim coach, and my former high school classmate. Could it get any more nostalgic? That’s why I love starting the 4th of July with the parade.
My beloved aunt has since passed away and my uncle has remarried to another super-star lady from the same neighborhood! He’s very lucky. He doesn’t live on the parade route anymore, but guess who invited me to watch the parade with her family this year? One of my oldest friends that I’ve known since the 2nd grade at her sister’s house. I won again! So, after I took Josie to the float, Joey and I walked over to her house and had a blast watching our truly great Bexley Parade.
After our parade-watching is over, we usually head to the pool and soak up the sun. Then maybe we have a bbq for dinner and watch the Bexley fireworks on the Capital University side streets. It’s a fun-filled day that is one of my favorite holidays all day long.
