Cooperative Living July 2024 - 30

RURAL LIVING
A Rural Fourth
Fireworks, fl amingos and fanfare
by Margo Oxendine, Contributing Columnist
W
ell, here
we are:
Ready
for America's biggest
holiday. It's not
Christmas, which
is celebrated over
much of the world, but the Fourth
of July, where we celebrate America's
freedom.
Th ere will no doubt be parades in
many towns. We don't have a Fourth
of July parade in Bath County, but I
really wish we did. Th ere's little that's
more heart-stirring than a rousing
Independence Day parade, with all
that patriotic music.
If I think about it, we did have a
celebration on the Fourth years ago. It
included a bicycle parade. I love riding
a bicycle. It's diffi cult to do around here
because of speeding pickups and log
trucks, and gravel off the macadam.
But back when I was still riding
my bike around on back roads, I
decided, shoot - I'm going to enter
the decorated bicycle parade. I even
had a theme. And, of course, it included
fl amingos.
[ SCENE IT! ]
I planned my outfi t: hot pink shorts
and a fl amingo-festooned T-shirt. And,
of course, pink shoes. I happened to have
a rather large fl amingo fl ag, or I guess
you'd call it a windsock. When the
wind hit it, the fl amingo fl ew. I attached
it to a dowel and fl ew it from the back
of my bike. Th en, a savvy friend rigged
up a " sound system " to the conveyance,
which played Jimmy Buff ett's
" Margaritaville. " It was all quite tropical.
I just knew it would be a hit with
the crowds.
What I failed to realize until I got
myself and my bicycle there was this:
It was a kid's parade. I was the only adult,
and a rather daſt looking one at that.
Nonetheless, I didn't want my endeavor
to go to waste, so it was decided that
I would lead the parade, with all the
dozens of cute kids in Uncle Sam hats
and such on their red, white and
blue-ribboned bikes, riding behind.
Of course, I didn't win the prize; that
would have been almost scandalous.
But I had a great time, nonetheless.
And my entry drew several comments
from cheering, but head-scratching,
onlookers.
LEXINGTON, VA
CL WHEREZ IT?
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you found it, along with your name, email and phone number
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While we residents rarely
have our own fi reworks display
on the evening of the Fourth,
we do get to enjoy a dazzling
display put on by Th e Homestead
for its guests. We locals simply
park our vehicles alongside
the golf course, get out, walk a little way,
or sit on the hood and look up at the
fi ery sky. It's always breathtaking.
And it causes, aſt erward, what is perhaps
the only traffi c jam to occur all year
in Hot Springs.
Th is year, I won't be riding any
fl amingo-festooned bike. I probably
won't even be parking along the
roadside. I will be worrying at home
during the booms of the pyrotechnics.
My second, and hopefully last, heart
surgery is slated for July 8, the Monday
aſt er the holiday, in Charlottesville.
Th is one, I learned recently from
my surgeon, will be no " piece of cake, "
like the fi rst. Th is time, there will be
a fi ve-inch-long incision made in my
throat. Sheesh! Even aſt er it heals or
scars over, I will look like I've been in
a nasty bar brawl or escaped a murder
attempt. Th en again, it will surely be
yet another tale to tell - should anyone
inquire. And I love to tell tales, as you
know.
*
To order a copy of Margo's " A Party of One, "
call 540-468-2147 Mon.-Wed., 9 a.m.-5 p.m.,
or email therecorderoffi ce@gmail.com.
PHOTO BY CINDY COX, REC MEMBER
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Cooperative Living July 2024

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