Fireworks!

Despite a slight angst about being on the road again, today I set out for my friends' new place in Holland, Michigan. I debated whether to take the ferry across Lake Michigan. The cost is pricey - $200 for car and driver. It takes 2 and a half hours to cross, and during the ride one can eat lunch and watch a movie. Driving? $25 gas and 5 hours time. Through Chicago. On a holiday weekend.

Still I kibbutz. Bottom line? After all I have been through, the thought of placing myself in danger over a huge body of water on a tiny boat is daunting. I finally call my fear for what it is, deal with it, and go online to book the ferry. Too late! They are full. Rats. Well, live and learn. I have no option now.

A classmate of mine is heading home to Michigan, and she is leaving at 4 in the morning to avoid traffic. I know full well I cannot ask my body to do that, but I am hoping for an early start. The best I can manage is 8am. Surprisingly, there isn't any heavy traffic in Chicago. I don't encounter slowdowns until Indiana, just before the Michigan border. People headed for a holiday outing on some beach.

At last I locate my friends' new place, delighted to have arrived without incident. The directions are perfect and soon I am sipping a cool drink on their patio which overlooks Lake Macatawa. Their front yard sports a strip of sandy beach and a small boat dock area. Across the lake is the Heinz pickle factory and a hangout called Kollen Park.

I love their wonderful new place, so cozy and splendidly decorated - no surprise since Sissie has a terrific gift of creating inviting spaces. I settle right in and am so pampered I feel almost guilty. We catch up. Its been way too long since we have seen each other and both of us have lived great adventures. I am delighted to travel vicariously through pictures to all the places in the world where Sissie has visited great cathedrals.

We lunch on fresh blueberries and cherries and smacking good grilled cheese sandwiches while the cool breeze off the lake keeps us happy. After dark, a long barge positions itself plunk in the middle of the lake right in front of the balcony and we watch expectantly for the fireworks to begin. There are bursts of color coming from all directions as Holland State Park, Kollen Park, and a handful of other destinations unknown throw their unbridled patriotic spirit sky high in red, blue, and green.

Suddenly, the barge begins its barrage. Poor little Zoe, their dog, has her hands full figuring out what all the hoo-hah is about. I haven't seen such a wonderful display in person in years, preferring to let the boys attend while I sit in the comfort of the living room celebrating with the Boston Pops or NYC or DC.

This is w-a-y better! The reverberating booms echo about the lake to cheers from neighbors and friends surrounding us, both on our side of the lake and across the water. When they set of the little crackly spitfires, we all laugh with glee. I especially appreciate the yellow stardust ones that paint delicate weeping willows in the dark night sky.

At one point, someone sent up a red upside down heart at which we all giggled. A few of the rockets didn't quite seem to get far enough airborn and we feared they would plunge into the lake before going off. Lots of detritus landed in the water - good thing the fish can hover on the bottom! Wonder what they made of all the excitement?

It was a great show and lasted a good long while. Kids on the beach in front of the house waved sparklers and screamed with joy. Families lined up lawn chairs and gazed together at the brilliance, chatting comfortably with no thought of office or responsibilities, just a great time to relax and enjoy life and each other.

Toward the amazing finale where they shoot off everything but the kitchen sink, Sissie brought us apple pie a la mode - a fitting Fourth of July dessert if every there was one. Yum, yum. As all wonderful things do, the show finally came to an end and we were left with the occasional pop and flare from some distant location.

Reluctantly, we tore ourselves from the balcony and headed inside, filled with joy and good will. What a great tradition. One I am sure Sissie will want to repeat often. Me too.