Happy Independence Day 2024, WA!
(Title image by DALL-E 3)
Hi WA Friends!
Happy Independence Day to all who celebrate it!
A Little History
Independence Day, also known as the Fourth of July, is a special holiday in the United States. It celebrates the day in 1776 when America declared its independence from Great Britain.
What Else Independence Day Means To Me
As a kid, it meant great food, music, fireworks, and a day out of school! My high school band made more noise than any fireworks display could ever match, but my parents always had a big family cookout and hired a 5-piece Italian band to play our favorite ethnic tunes while everyone sang, ate, and drank. Joe Culagone was the bandleader. He sang and played the accordion, along with the other members who played a standup bass, trumpet, mandolin, and guitar.
I could join them with my sister's acoustic guitar if I was well-behaved, which meant no Rock & Roll. It was a nylon-string classical guitar, so I couldn't be too disruptive. We played all the Italian favorites, along with tunes by Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Tony Bennett, and Sammy Davis Junior. Even four bars of Jimi Hendrix were grounds for immediate expulsion from the band and a big speech about how I didn't know anything about being Italian! Lol 😂
We lived on the water where the town shot off an excellent fireworks display, so it was the place to be, and between family, friends, and neighbors, we always had upwards of fifty or sixty people attend. They could smell my mother's cooking and the grilling up and down our whole street, so it was like ringing the dinner bell and they all came a running, bringing their favorite 4th of July dishes to add to the food orgy. Hahaha 😎
Fast Forwarding To Today
This year, we're making it a super-long weekend. Not much has changed, so we still have a huge Fourth of July festa, and everybody comes, just without the Italian band. Now, I'm one of the older guys who gets to sit back and watch the younger ones run all around doing this and that to make it all happen. Although I'm still quite capable, my wife will be watching to be sure I don't blow my hand off with a cherry bomb or choke on a chicken bone. Lol 😆
Have a great one, everyone! 💥 🧨 💣
(By DALL-E 3)
Rock On! 🤘⚡️🤘
Frank 🎸
100% Human-written content!
Recent Comments
50
The 4th of July is a celebration of what makes this country great. We strive for greatness and are challenged to exceed expectations. We do not wait for the government to do it for us, just as the founders set out to leave England behind.
As an Affiliate Marketer, you embody the American Dream. You strive for excellence and to break the bonds of complacency and mediocrity. You will achieve what you dream of.
Dream On...... Aim High...
Happy 4th, Frank. I'm working today, tomorrow, and Sunday. This is my version of sitting back and letting the young ones have fun. I have Monday off so I'll miss them all feeling (not playing or listening to) the blues.
Happy Independence day buddy. Hope you had/ are having a great day.
I have enjoyed a few independence days in Vietnam. And the most memorable was a string of fireworks let off that sounded exactly like a light machine gun fire. I am sure the vets on both sides were appreciative of that. It certainly scared the heck out of me.
Stevoi
Thanks, Steve! 😎
Yeah, I still love the fireworks, even at almost 70 years old. Lol
Have a great 4th! 🧨💥 🇺🇸
My house had a few of those cookouts too, Frank.
The second you light the match and drop it on the grill - here comes everyone out of the woodwork! From next door, across the street, next block over, on bikes, skateboards or falling out of the trees!
It was the best of times!
Happy 4th! 🤘🎸🎇🎆🇺🇸
Isaiah 😁
Absolutely, Isaiah !!! 👍👍
Times seemed much more fun back then. The streets were always filled with neighborhood kids playing all sorts of outdoor games. Today, they seem to stay inside and text each other. I know - I sound like the old dudes who used to lecture me when I was young. Lol 😎
Have an outstanding 4th! 💥🧨 🇺🇸
Frank 🤘🎸
Hi Frank,
Sounds like an awesome childhood for sure. It's been a long time since I played a nylon stringed guitar. I didn't care for them, personally. 🎸
Enjoy your party and Happy Independence Day to you and your family!! 🎆🎇🧨😎
Tim 🎼
Hi Tim
My sister plays folk music, but she likes a classical guitar because the nylon strings are easier on her fingers. She has a mid-1960s Gibson that is probably worth a few bucks today.
I have a great Ibanez solid-body nylon string guitar with piezoelectric pickups. It plays as fast as a steel-string electric and is great for Earl Klugh and Peter White-type tunes.
Have an excellent time tonight! Happy 4th! 🧨💥 🎆
Frank 🎸
Yeah, I knew you would get a kick out of that Pinterest pin! I don't forget my WA guitar-playing friends! Lol 😎
See more comments
Happy Independence Day Frank!!
I'm sure you will have a Rocking time my friend but take it easy on the cocktails ok!!
🤣👍🍹🍹🎸😎
Thanks, Nick! 😎
Way too much food to eat, so I might need a second drink to wash it all down! Lol 🍹 🧨💥
Frank 🤘🎸
Just make it a light one and not one of Stacey's famous cocktails Frank!!!
🤣😎🍹🍹👍
Haha, I made it through the 4th celebration, and now on to the long weekend festivities, Nick! Lol 🥳
Rock On! 🤘
Frank 🎸
Sounds great Frank! Take it easy though my friend!!
Rock On!!
😉👍👍🍹🎸😎
I'll just be sipping on champagne tonight with a variety of hors d'oeuvres, Nick. 🍾
Alcohol and I don't get along too well. Lol 😎
Keep On Rockin'! 🤘
Frank 🎸
Sounds like a great plan Frank and I know you don't get along well with alcohol my friend!!
🤣👍😎🎸🍹🍻🥂
And, now for a bit of a quiet Sunday, Nick. 😎
Frank 🎸
Enjoy Frank!!
👍😎🎸🍹🍻
You, too, Nick! 😎🎶🍹🍻