Fourth of July

In this family, it is NOT baseball and apple pie that come to mind when talking about all-American traditions. Instead, it's the flotilla and fireworks on the lake.

Lake Tippecanoe still has the traditional daytime flotilla. (We entered a float one year and almost sank the boat and our family ties, hence we have not been brave enough to enter again.) Lake Wawasee has started a great new tradition of having a lighted flotilla at night.

If you have never seen fireworks from the water, you should. (Unfortunately, I missed the photo op last night because the downpour of rain didn't stop until minutes before the fireworks began, so I ran out without a camera.) Nevertheless, the fireworks were spectacular, especially set to the background of synchronized patriotic music from a local radio station.

Another all-American tradition in this family is boat church on Fourth of July weekend. Auntie Carol comes all the way from Minnesota just to hear Rick Whitaker sing "Proud to be an American" from a pontoon on Lake Tippecanoe. He's been singing every year since at least 1993 - and Auntie Carol has been there for almost every performance.

Here's one of my favorite photos - and quotes - from last year.