I have lost a lot of family members in recent years, so holidays can be bittersweet. I miss the individuals who used to gather with us to celebrate, but cherish the memories of a family that loved to get together and share good times. One of my favorite Fourth of July memories…

I was that awkward age of 11 (maybe 12) and my grandparents came to the house to celebrate the Fourth of July. Grandpa was a Kodak photographer and had smuggled sparklers over the border following a photo shoot in Canada. The night was ink black and we ran like banshees in the back yard weaving our sparklers as we created miniature fireworks for all who watched. I recently came across a photograph of myself running through the yard with the sparklers. When the photo was taken I felt beautiful, but the photo does not reflect those inner feelings…my hair was askew and I was wearing geeky glasses…an awkward pre-teen for sure. That night Grandpa taught me where the big dipper was. I still feel like a carefree child full of joy and delight whenever I look up in the skies and see the big dipper.

I can’t share sparklers online, but I have embedded a fireworks widget…click in the skies below as you think back to some of your own Fourth of July joys.

As I researched the Big Dipper I also came across this lovely Flickr photo featuring the Big Dipper and coupled it with a favorite quote (the photo is a bit dark…click on the image to see the larger version). Please consider this my feeble attempt to share the big dipper via words and images and join me in thanking Flickr user joiseyshowaa for sharing the photograph.

Have a happy and safe Fourth of July!