In Focus

Happy Fourth of July!

I am looking forward to a fun-filled weekend of barbecuing and fireworks!

I don’t know if I have ever told this story, but many years ago I had a Fourth of July party at my home in Bertha. I think I was maybe 19-ish at the time. My step-dad was a cross country semi driver and had purchased some...less than legal...fireworks.

So what better way to set them off than with friends? Not many of my friends had actually been to my house as we mainly gathered in Wadena at that time...at...you know the old Pamida parking lot.

Anyway, when I’d get a call one of my friends was in town looking for the house, we’d send up a “flare”—one of the many fireworks—to signal our location.

Another draw for me and my friends was my step-dad had a full load of beer. Of course, we couldn’t touch it, but it was a temptation.

Once everyone arrived, we ate and chilled out on the back deck until it got dark. Then we moved to the front yard and set the fireworks off in front of the house in the middle of the street. We stopped occasionally if a car needed to pass through.

It really was one of the more memorable Fourths I’ve ever had. The following day forever ingrained that night into my memory.

The next day, there was a knock at the front door. I answered it and came face to face with two police officers standing there. My first thought was we were getting busted for the fireworks.

That was not the case.

They did inquire about the party and asked if I knew anyone that may have snuck away or where everyone went after the party.

To my knowledge, they all were accounted for and just went home after the party ended.

Why were they asking? Well, that morning someone or several people had taken a dump on several doorsteps of main street businesses. I couldn’t help them out.

The officers went on their way. I don’t know if they ever figured out who did that, but why would anyone want to do that? I felt bad for whoever had to clean that up. That’s just gross!

I will always remember that Fourth of July...