A hot summer evening�s festivities of home made ice cream, burgers and dogs from the grill, children running and playing with cousin�s means that it�s the Fourth of July in the South. The men folk will be gathered around a television set somewhere playfully arguing about NASCAR while the ladies make potato salad in the kitchen and swap the latest gossip. Out in the garage is metal tub full of ice with a blanket on top, it�s got an ice cold watermelon in it that Daddy�s had his mind on all day. The yard smells like fresh-cut grass, and the bug zappers are all on. Up and down every street of every town there�s a flag on every pole. Up on the square there have been pie eating contests and �dunk the mayor� for charity games. Bunting hangs everywhere and all the stores are closed. Yes, it�s the fourth of July in the South.

Out at the ball field the volunteer fire department has a pig in the ground, and the tent next door the Ladies Auxiliary has the coldest Mint Juleps known to man. These events are always subject to politicians, and can sometimes be rather humorous, as they debate about things in the hot July sun. I often watch and sip my drink until the sun begins to set in the western sky, and the paid fire department begins lighting the night�s fireworks.

The acrid fumes eventually find their way into my nostrils and I watch the sky explode in brilliant colors. I listen as the crowd �Ooooohs and Aaaaahs� as each explosion becomes grander than the last. At the finale the mortars are deafening, but all are thrilled to have shared in this experience we call the fourth of July.

Still not quite through, we race home and drag out what was bought under tents with signs like, �Crazy Ed�s Fireworks�. To the center of the yard we go with Crazy Ed�s finest. This scene is repeated all over the south, even in those states where fireworks are illegal to posses. The family sits outside in chairs and watches this event. Actually while the fireworks are entertaining, the people in charge of lighting them can be fun to watch too, especially when they trip while running away from a lighted one. No we don�t want to see anybody get hurt, I mean trip after they�ve made it away. We watch with our heads tilted up, and then wipe the ashes out of our faces each time while smiling, �Good�un!� Since we�re safely at home, and we aren�t the pyrotechnical expert, it�s ok to have a �cold beer�.

So, I tip my beer to you America, and the South. I am damn proud to be a part of you.

Happy Birthday America, God Bless, Semper Fi!, and Get er Done!