July 4th

Grams and Grandad had a quiet 4th of July. I'm living on memories of our fantastic trip to Boston last July. In fact, my cousin Rita and her family are there this week. I've been living vicariously through her Facebook posts. I often think about going back to Boston, but there are so many other places to go that I don't know if we will or not. We've never been to the West Coast, so maybe next summer calls for that. Time will tell.

We live in a suburb of Corpus Christi. Between Calallen, where we live, and downtown Corpus Christi is an industrial area of the Port of Corpus Christi. We drive right past several oil and gas refineries and all the supporting industries. We can see the ships in the turning basin and the ship channel off to the North. It's so normal to us that we don't even notice them most of the time. But since September 11th, all of the crane companies do a little something special along the highway on all the patriotic holidays. Yesterday evening on the drive in to see the fireworks I snapped a few photos that I want to share with you. They were taken at dusk from my car which Grandad was driving down the interstate at 70 mph, so they're not great photos, but I think you'll get the idea. The flags look kind of normal sized in the photos, but in reality they are enormous. It's a very moving site.

Because of the extreme drought, many places in Texas had to cancel their annual 4th of July fireworks shows. In Corpus Christi our shows are held over the Corpus Christi Bay, so there is very little danger of fire. There is always a nice ocean breeze so even when the weather is hot, it's comfortable outdoors in the evening. Plus, the seawall is actually a series of steps down to the water, which makes it a perfect place to gather and watch the fireworks. The fireworks are shot off of the deck of the USS Lexington Museum on the Bay and they're sponsored by H-E-B Grocery Company. I shot the fireworks photos with my new cell phone which is an HTC Evo Shift. It takes pretty good pictures and it shoots significantly faster than my Canon Power Shot. It wasn't the Boston Pops with fireworks, but it was enjoyable. I think it's pretty cool that you can see the ship in the pictures when the fireworks light up the night.

Here's my favorite photo from the 4th of July. It was taken at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio. Their fireworks were cancelled due to the risk of fire, but the family festival went on as planned. Katy reported that there was almost no one there. More fun for Our Little Princess.

However you chose to celebrate (or not), I hope you had a great 4th of July.

Let Freedom Ring

Grams and Grandad are celebrating at home this Independence Day. Last year we spent the week leading up to July 4th in Boston. It ranks among my favorite vacations ever. On July 4th, we spent the entire day in the park waiting to see and hear the Boston Pops and the fireworks over the river. It was fabulous!

Faces in the crowd from Boston 2010

This year we're having a small shrimp boil at home. Then we're heading down to the Corpus Christi Bayfront for the fireworks. Corpus Christi is one of the few areas in Texas where the fireworks show has not been cancelled due to the drought. It's not that we're not in the drought area, but our fireworks are shot from the deck of the USS Lexington Museum on the Bay over Corpus Christi Bay. Therefore the danger of fire is minimal.

As the sun goes down tonight, we'll be sitting somewhere along the seawall enjoying the sea breeze and waiting for the fireworks which start at 9:30.

Corpus Christi Seawall

It may not quite measure up to the Boston Pops and the Fireworks Spectacular, but it should be an enjoyable evening.

While you're celebrating today, don't forget that freedom is not free. Here in Corpus Christi this afternoon, the Patriot Guard is standing along the street leading to the Corpus Christi Airport. They are there to welcome home the body of Marine Cpl. Mark Goyet of Sinton, Texas. Cpl. Goyet and his family made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.  I think it's suitable to welcome him home on this day.

Photo by Jim Reaves

I saw the Patriot Guard a few months ago when they provided an honor guard for another fallen marine from a neighboring community. It's a very moving site to see.

However you celebrate Independence Day, I hope it's spectacular!