4th of July memories

[WSB]

In case anybody else has any to share … for some reason I just feel like writing this, maybe because it’s a “10th anniversary” thing.

Fourth of July 1998 is one I won’t ever forget. It was the last one we had with my mom (who died of pancreatic cancer less than a year later). Many other things about that memory are gone, or changed.

I was still working for KOMO TV and we were invited to join the station’s special area at the 4th of Jul-Ivar’s fireworks-viewing event in Myrtle Edwards Park – then, as now, KOMO broadcast the Jul-Ivar’s fireworks; I wasn’t involved in the broadcast because my main job for the station by then was to manage its expanding website. (The Myrtle Edwards events stopped a couple years ago; people watch the fireworks from there, still, but no more daylong festival going with it.)

Back then – another “not any more” – the Water Taxi shuttle bus ran to Morgan Junction, where my mom lived. So that day, the three of us (Junior Member of the Firm was barely 2 1/2) drove down the hill to her apartment. We caught the shuttle to the Water Taxi – remember the smaller boat that used to handle the run? – crossed the bay and then took the Waterfront Streetcar (now on indefinite hiatus) to Myrtle Edwards.

Aside from a few sprinkles (of course!) it was a fun time. But it took so long afterward to get onto the streetcar and back to the WT dock, the shuttle bus had stopped running – even though the afternoon driver, and the WT crew, had insisted there would be a shuttle meeting the last WT run, whatever time it was.

We and a few other stragglers called Metro from Seacrest and raised holy heck, and after a long wait, they finally sent an empty full-size bus for us! By then, it was about 2 am, and while us grownups were fading, and extremely grumped out over the shuttle debacle, the then-toddler was still bright eyed and lively and having a great time. (To this day, in fact, he remains that way well into the wee hours.)

The odd little memory became all the more poignant a few months later when Mom was diagnosed, and it reminds me to try to find the good times in everything – no matter what – because you just don’t know what’s coming next.

Got a memory to share? Love to hear it. Otherwise, thanks for reading mine. We’re planning to enjoy this year as it’s the first one in a long time when we plan to watch the fireworks from Alki; last year we were out of state, and for several years before that, I had to work on the 4th, managing the live fireworks broadcast on Q13 – TR

[Anonymous]

TR – Thank you for sharing that story.

It was touching and I’m glad you have it to tell.

Have a great 4th!

[JanS]

TR…gentle hugs for you…and thank you for sharing.I hope this 4th brings back all the good memories..enjoy the fireworks !

[Diane]

thanks so much for sharing TR, and for starting the thread

I realized few hours ago that today is my 10-year anniversary of moving to Seattle; I moved here by myself, not knowing a single person; it was very scary and lonely for a long time

that July 4, after driving a moving van 2 days from the bay area, I was way too tired to go out anywhere looking for fireworks, and afraid I’d get lost, and it was raining; and my apt was up on a hill with view of fireworks all over

my favorite July 4th was first time taking the fabulous Waterfront Streetcar to the Myrtle Edwards Ivar’s Fest a couple years ago, riding a miniature train on a loop down the foot path about a mile, and dancing to the Beatniks for hours; though I got out of there before the evening chaos, back to West Seattle for fireworks; I had so much fun; little did I know, that would be the last Fest, and last of the streetcar for a very long time, or ever?

I remember SAM having a table set up at that fest, and promising the streetcar would only be out of service for about a year; I feel terribly betrayed and saddened by the loss of the streetcar; and it seems absolutely idiotic that we have fully operational beautiful streetcars just sitting unused in storage, tracks and stops already installed

this year I’ll probably stay home and watch fireworks from my apt, with full view of downtown; I’ve done the whole crazy Alki/Harbor scene a few times, and this is my first 4th of July in this apt; and since I can see both shows from here, I can flip between ch4 and ch5 for the simulcast

oh, and I had no idea there was a water taxi or shuttle bus running 10 yrs ago; first I heard of it was about 5 yrs ago, with the little boat

for several years I’ve gone to the Naturalization ceremony at Seattle Center, which is very moving

but I’ve never been to the West Seattle kiddy parade, so that sounds fun, create a new memory

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