Thursday, July 4, 2013

Born on the Fourth of July

Growing up there was only one holiday we celebrated with any consistency when it came to traditions - the Fourth of July.  We would head out in the morning to DeLavega Golf Course for a day filled with barbecue, root beer floats, bingo, three legged sack races, putting contests and a shot gun golf tournament.

As it happened, the fourth was also my grandfather's (Pop-pa) birthday.  As a long time member of the DeLaveaga Men's Club, he was the mastermind behind this day of festivities and would put my sister and I to work as soon as we arrived, usually assigning us to root beer float duty.  I always felt slightly put out about this as it meant I was stuck away from the crowds as I tried to chip away at the huge 10 gallon tub of VERY frozen vanilla ice cream.

I would (maybe) last an hour before begging to be relieved of my "job" so I could go hang out with the adults.  I was that kid - always preferred to hang out with the parents than the kids...and after the barbecue wrapped up and all the children and men headed out to the driving range for sack races, I would pretend not to notice so I could stick around with the women, looking over my mom's shoulder at her bingo card and listening to the gossip.

My mom entertained my efforts for (maybe) 20 minutes before she shooed me away and off I went to the driving range, where inevitable my sister and I would be paired up in the three legged race.  I don't recall if we ever won, nor do I remember if we fell...but MAN those sacks were itchy on the legs.

We would then wander over to the putting green and try to convince Pop-pa to let us ride on his golf cart during the shot-gun tournament.  As the day wound down and the sun started  I remember watching Pop-pa mingling through the teams, a cigarette dangling from his mouth as he talked a big game about kicking every one's butt.  Totally in his element and full of life.

Some of the best memories ever.


Happy Birthday Pop-pa.  We love and miss you.