4th of July!



Friday, July 4

“Are you wearing red white & blue?” Megan demanded over the phone.
“Ah, I was,” I said. “I thought it would look silly—”
“PUT IT ON NOW.”
“Yes ma’am!”

Megan and Brielle and I banded together like good Americans to celebrate the 4th of July. As commanded Megan and I literally embodied the stars & stripes. Oh, yeah. Rock on, America!



We trotted over to the British Museum, literally across the street from my flat, to check out its 4th of July celebrations. Inside the museum’s massive main lobby we encountered blasting big band music and a line of dancers performing what I believe was the Charleston. Those . . . are not even from the same era, but okay. The line for hot dogs was simply impossible, but we found a nice surprise outside: free Krispy Kreme donuts! Pretty much the perfect symbol of Americans’ love of sugar and excess.



The museum had promised American football and basketball “demonstrations” as part of the show, and they were quite amusing as could be expected. The football demonstration began with some of the goofy warm-ups players have to do, which garnered some chuckles from the crowd. And a crowd there was indeed, ogling the few scrawny players and their movements as if they were a rare zoo exhibit. “Have you ever actually seen an American football player?” I heard one British boy ask his friend behind me. “They’re huge!!”



A single Krispy Kreme donut not being enough, we walked down the street to Ultimate Burger where Megan and I split a massive, juicy hamburger, thereby truly fulfilling our Americanness. If only we could have had some fireworks or sparklers, the day would have been perfect.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

The Brits are so polite to acknowledge 4th of July. Hot dogs and football demonstrations are fun, but you're right that the true measure is fireworks on the beach. This year's display here was stunning as usual, then there was a long pause which indicated it was over. Most spectators left. Suddenly random sporadic fireworks began exploding and continued over the next 30 to 45 minutes. Not the small ones set off by individuals, but the real deal. It was as tho the setters discovered an overlooked boxful as they packed up & decided to share them with us. An extra special show for the laggards who were still sitting around the bonfire.

Karen said...

Oh, that's so cool! Agreed that it simply is not 4th of July without fireworks. Of course you were one of the laggards at the bonfire. :)