The market was full of customers this morning. Fireworks in abundance and American Flags for all. Long lines at the cashiers and at the self-checkout as well. The 4th is Friday, and it is the big holiday of the summer. After that, it is Christmas in July. Frank Sinatra told us that the days grow short when you reach September, only two months away. The feeling of our year is a roller coaster ride will increase from here on. The latter half of the year flies by. School will begin next month. A man in the grocery line told us he had opened his pool last night. I wondered if he realized how soon it would be time to close it again. The lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer are like a dream when the cool winds begin to blow and the new textbooks are distributed.

Summer is good for change. Shake things up. Prepare for the frost of winter. What are you doing to develop a bad habit? Stop. Seek what makes you feel whole. Revel in your sense of place. Never project on others the actions or feelings that you want mirrored back to you. Accept folks for who they are.

‘This 4th of July will be the best ever,’ Jane exclaimed. ‘We have Cherry Bombs and Roman Candle Launchers to excite the holiday crowd,’ Jane said. ‘Our fireworks show will be epic,’ Jane smiled. ‘We will not let the One Old Sore Head shoot off the Roman Candles this 4th as he complained all last 4th that they were not sparkling enough,’ Jane observed.

‘One Old Sore Head appeared mysteriously last 4th and I did not think that he existed beyond our sign for Eldorado as you enter town,’ Chet noted. ‘He really is a crumudgeon,’ Chet noted. ‘OOSH told me that he had lived in Eldorado at the turn of the century and in those days they did things better,’ Chet said with a wink. ‘OOSH told me that he had been a founder of Eldorado when it was first named after the Elder and Reader families and that he was left out of the name,’ Chet continued. ‘His name is Frank N. Stein,’ Chet said with a laugh.

‘Frank N. Stein was a good guy, Neva J said. ‘He helped me find a house to rent when I first moved to Eldorado,’ Neva J informed. ‘He comes over on Saturday nights for Bridge, and he often won,’ Neva J winked. ‘Frank got tired of people making fun of his name,’ Neva J observed. ‘He was a serious man and did not suffer fools gladly,’ Neva J said.

‘Well, ladies and gentlemen, now comes the coup de grace, where we will write with fireworks the names of our town fathers in the darkened sky next to the Starlight Drive-In’s big Silver Screen,’ the Announcer proclaimed. ‘Please be prepared for a surprise that will excite and amaze you,’ the Announcer said.

Frank N. Stein smiled as his name was written in the black and starless sky of the 4th of July.