The Worst Fourth of the North (Twice)

     The year was 2008.  The nation was celebrating its Independence Day.  Parades and festivals were going on across the country.  We decided to take the kids to Lake City for its "Greatest Fourth Of The North" fireworks that night.  We have seen the advertisments many times over on the TV, radio and newspapers and wanted to check it out. 

     We drove north to Lake City.  The small country town was wake with activity.  People were strolling along the sidewalks nibbling on ice cream.  New couples were holding hands as if they were the only ones on Earth.  Dogs on leashes were sniffing every passer-byer.  A band was playing in the distance.  Families were swimming at the beach.  It was a Norman Rockwell moment.  We parked several blocks north of the festivities.  I was over 8 months pregnant and we had 5 excited kids in tow.  The walk was uncomfortable but I was determined.  It was going to be a great night.

     We strolled by the Dairy Queen and stopped in for a bite.  The line was stretched out past the doors and far into the parking lot.  It was hot but it was fun soaking in the sites of people hurring by and cars trying to make it to its destinations.  Afterwards we took our ice creams and walked along to see the vendors and came upon the band.  Songs from the 60's, 70's and 80's filled the air.  They were good and fun to listen to.

     Next to the band was an open grassy area that led out to Lake Missaukee.  People were dotted along the field on their blankets and chairs awaiting for the fireworks to begin.  We found a spot that looked good and placed our blanket down.  The kids were occupied with some toys I brought from home.  All was going good.  The night was setting and kids were anxiously asking if it was time yet.  "Soon", we would tell them.  Out across the lake homes were letting off smaller fireworks.  It was nice and somewhat entertaining.  Then we heard loud booms.

     We knew the fireworks were starting.  Peoples eyes were on the sky.  We could hear the explosions of fireworks but couldn't see any.  A few boo's echoed in the crowd.  Finally, to the south, the top of fireworks peeked over the buildings.  Again and again we would see just the top sparks for an exploding firework.  We assumed they were going to light them off from the lake and not from the side.  Store buildings towered over the grassy seating area.  More boo's and complaints filled the air.  Some people grabbed their blankets, coolers and kids and quickly headed south to find a spot to see the show.  We thought about it but instead headed back to the car unhappily.  We didn't want to go further away from the car, with me feeling the effects of being 8 months pregnant plus little kids and trying to make it back to our car in the dark.  We didn't want to take the chance of an accident happening.  That was the end of the firworks for that year.

     A whole year went by.  Advertising for the "Greatest Fourth in the North" was sweeping the papers once again.  In one newspaper there was an apology from the city counsel about the location of the fireworks and they had a lot of complaints from the location so they declared to have the fireworks go off from a boat in the middle of Lake Missaukee so all could view them.  We decided to give it another try. 

     We loaded up the van, this time, 6 children in tow off to see the firework show.  We parked in the same area, stood in the same line for ice cream at the Dairy Queen, and heard the same sweet tunes of a band playing.  We even took our place in the same grassy field as the year before.  We were excited this year.  We brought sparklers to keep the kids happy during the dusk hours.  They enjoyed it.  The night started growing darker and darker.  The 10 O'clock hour struck.  The fireworks should be beginning shortly.  Nothing happened.  Other families in the area had fountain fireworks and people near by ooooh'ed and ahhh'ed over them to pass the time.  Thirty minutes pass.  Still nothing.  Young children in the distance started getting tired and cranky.  Even our children were getting annoyed at the darkness in the sky without fireworks exploding to entertain them.  



Ashton(8), Elizabeth (11), Christian (12), James (6), Halvor (almost 4) and Levi (almost 1) 2009.



     Families were starting to pack up and head for home.  Brian and I started laughing at the funny odds of having two bad experiences with fireworks from the same town.  Our children were starting to get restless and tired.  More and more families were leaving.  Rumors were circulating that they couldn't find the pyro-tech guy or they forgot to bring something to light the fireworks out on the boat.  Eleven O'Clock roamed around and we decided that it was our turn to pack up our things and leave.  The crowd was thinned out by the families that already left.  Again, with unhappy children we made our trek back to the van and headed home. 

     As another year passed by the kids were starting to enjoy the hope of fireworks and the failure of them not happening at Lake City.  They wanted to go back and see what kind of disaster would happen that year.  We decided to opt out and keep it local instead.  We haven't been back there since.  My sister even called earlier today as I was starting to write this blog and asked if I ever been there.  I gave her my experience and told her if she wanted to take her family to experience it that I wish her the best of luck.  

     Moments like that cannot be planned but it is moments like that that become memorable.