Every year, my dad, brother, and I would drive down to Missouri, cross the border, and buy fireworks for the 4th of July. We held an annual block party for July 4th, with a few relatives and friends thrown in for good measure. Hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, potato salad, cole slaw, and a big hollowed-out watermelon filled with every conceivable berry and melon. Good stuff.
My other memory of those times is that it was the one time of the year when we were allowed to drink any kind of pop we wanted to lay our hands on. So, in addition to visiting various sketchy roadside fireworks vendors, we made an annual pilgrimage to the store for things like Black Cherry Shasta, Creme Soda, Sunkist Orange, Grape, and Strawberry, and the like.
And sparklers. Lots and lots and lots of sparklers.
that nice ")
i am compelled to return to state my soda fav: Fanta Orange or Grape (i think Grape might have been my fav). check out this old French Fanta poster for sale on ebay: http://www.237studio.com/images/19354.jpg
i may have to get that now!