We had a gorgeous night for a July Fourth celebration Saturday — a week late, but gorgeous by any measure. I haven’t heard any numbers so I am not sure how the Fourth Celebration Society felt about the success of the rain date celebration. Our return guests were fewer in number, but still we all had fun. One nice part for us was the lack of personal fireworks exploding around us until midnight. As usual we had musicians in the yard and under the tents so it was nice to just enjoy the tunes without all the detonations in the background.
Because of the rain date, the parade was smaller than in past years but fun to watch as usual. There were many youngsters on decorated bicycles and four-wheelers and on horses and floats. It is always nice to see so them taking part. We had only a couple of children visiting this time, and they really cleaned up in the candy department — sugar highs all around! I heard this was the 10th year for Tammy Whiteside and her mom, Rose Thomason, to be in charge of the parade. They say it will be their last. Thanks to both of them for stepping up year after year to make sure the event came off as it should. We and our guests have never failed to enjoy and appreciate the July Fourth parade!
On Saturday afternoon the Married Daughter and I stopped by Peabody Township Library for yummy ice cream sundaes from Peabody Historical Society board members. We were on our way to convert a golf cart into a float for the parade when we spied them dishing up the good stuff on the library lawn. We decided an ice cream treat could go a long way toward creative golf cart decoration. And it worked. We took second place. I hope you were lucky enough to get a decadent sundae from that bunch.
I need to say that I am proud beyond measure of Preston and Lisa Hodges for taking the giant step, like Brian and Alisa McDowell before them, to head the Fourth of July Celebration for us. The world would keep on spinning if Peabody never had another celebration, but wouldn’t it be a shame to just stop because no one was willing to make the extra effort to do the right thing? I love the Fourth in Peabody. For 40 years I have loved the Fourth in Peabody. So thank you Pete and Lisa for seeing to it I get to celebrate a 41st July Fourth extravaganza. Sorry your inaugural celebration was so soggy, but hey, now you have it under your belts and you know what to do.
Congratulations to everyone who worked hard to pull off a great celebration despite the delay! Your audience loved it and we all will be back next year for the 90th.
— Susan Marshall