Holidays like Christmas, Easter and Halloween are tailor-made for children. Santa, egg hunts and trick-or-treating often make these days fun for kids and therefore are fun for adults because they get to watch the kids get excited.
At least, that's what happens most of the time.
This past Christmas Autumn was sick. She couldn't have been less interested in anything other than cuddling and sleeping. For Easter, the only way we could get her to pick up anything was to tell her to clean up. And she was too young for the other holidays that came before that.
And yesterday, for her second Fourth of July, the holiday was pretty much nonexistent. She did get to stay home with Mommy in the morning and to ride around Presque Isle's multipurpose trail in the afternoon with both Mommy and Daddy. But all the hoopla and celebrations elsewhere in the county, including the fireworks, didn't even exist for her. Since she goes to bed at 8 p.m., the 10 p.m. firework shows are way too late, especially since she still has to wake up early in the morning. I don't know when she'll get that first look at the bright colors filling the sky or cover her ears because of the loud booms resounding with each pretty display.
I do know I was just thinking last night I wouldn't see any fireworks this year when I saw a few through my kitchen window. Then I saw so many more on television watching the "Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular." Humor me for a minute as I get sidetracked and tell you that Steven Tyler could not have looked worse as Aerosmith performed along with the Boston Pops for a few songs. The Boston Herald says he looked "bronzed and healthy," but his hair, his clothes and just his overall appearance looked awful. And his voice has been better -- but coming off surgery that required total vocal rest can excuse that. But, hey, the fireworks were awesome, even if they were just on TV.
Now that the Fourth is done, I'm looking ahead to Halloween. Hopefully we'll have a little girl excited about her costume and ready to go to ZooBoo and, perhaps, trick-or-treating. I'm just waiting for that holiday where her eyes sparkle and she gets so excited she's practically jumping up and down. I'm waiting for that holiday that takes me back to the excitement of my childhood. The one where I could hardly sleep I was so excited.
Soon... it will come soon...