|
Ooh, we had some birthday celebrating to do at our end of the block this Fourth of July! This holiday has turned into a birthday bonanza on steroids.
Let me backtrack to when I moved into my beloved house eight years ago. I'd only lived here a few weeks that Fourth of July. I'd skip the parties because in those days it was all about CNN and the wacky early morning hours I had to keep.
Well, I thought I was going to sleep early that night. These loud, "Boom! Boom! Boom!" noises stirred me out of bed and out onto the deck. That's where I saw the most amazing site. A huge fireworks show! It looked like some billionaire had paid for a private fireworks display. I couldn't believe it. No one told me about this bonus feature when I bought the house. I looked around for someone to laugh at my bonus gift. There was no one there. I vowed that was the last time 4th of July would go unshared at my house.
I've kept that vow and the festivities have grown each year. The official name of the gathering is, The "Go Somewhere Else For BBQ & Swim, Come To My House For Fireworks & Dessert" Party.
See, I'm festive, yet practical. Can't BBQ (or "grill out," as they say here in the South) worth a darn and I don't have a pool. But, I can offer an amazing, no crowds/no traffic view of fireworks.
I throw the dessert in because I love sweets. I'm always looking for an excuse for birthday cake. "What better reason than America's birthday?" I figured that first year.
Turns out Uncle Sam has company with July birthdays. My friend, Kathy's birthday is today. Today is also the special day for Mark, the boyfriend of my friend Tracy. Actually, since last 4th of July, Mark popped the question. So, he's elevated to "fiance" status. Way to go, Mark! He gets an extra candle on the cake for that!
Of course, I can't forget my godson, Hudson, who turned 5 last week. Neighbor Erin is on the 7th. Two years ago, she was out to here pregnant and popped out baby Thomas not too long after the fireworks popped. You guessed it, Thomas now gets his name on the cake.
Each of the extra names mean every year, I need a bigger and bigger cake. Works for me! Here's a peek at this year's humungo cake courtesy of Atlanta's best cake resource, Gloria Brock, a.k.a, "The Cake Lady."
Gloria is amazing. I just call her up with one of my unusual requests and she creates. "Gloria, how about a 4th of July birthday cake for Kathy, Mark, Hudson, Erin, Thomas and America?"
"Great!" she says. Nothing phases her. Some day I'll tell you about the kidney cake she created for my friend, Bob Coleman, the day before he had his kidney transplant.
By the way, this time when the fireworks display started, I heard the now familiar, "Boom! Boom! Boom!" My iPod sat in its docking station providing the background theme music. Through all that I heard this little voice shrieking with delight, "Da-wyn! Da-wyn!" It was the neighbor's 4 1/2 year old niece, Liddy. "Da-wyn! The fie-wooks ahr stahting! Da-wyn! I wuv fie-wooks!"
"Yes, I do, too, Liddy," I agreed. "And I'm so glad you could come over to share."
Now, there's still some party mess to clean up. LIddy was just one of the zillion kids who were here and made great use of the glow sticks, tattoos, whoopie cushions, sidewalk chalk and fake mustaches that I provided to enhance the festivities. I'll enjoy picking up every last bit of mess and thinking about the 4th of July celebrations that just get better and better.
Oh, and there's that leftover cake that will make a delightful mid-morning snack.
Here's hoping your holiday was festive, as well.
|
|
