Here in New England it's been the most perfect day for a traditional Independence Day picnic. I went to Tolman Pond, where the usual mixture of summer folk and townies hung out, eating and drinking and taking part in a crazy game that was an amalgam of several field-day games- you paddled your canoe around the dock, raced to the water-balloon toss, scrambled to tie yourself to your partner for a 3-legged race around the barn, then sang the Star Spangled Banner with your team as fast as you could-
My job was to help the SSB singers, so while we waited, our impromptu chorus sang "Do Lord, Remember Me," "I'll Fly Away" etc. in terrific harmonies (most of us had never sung together before)...
Finally, the triumphal parade: bicycles, strollers, a couple of good old cars, a couple of motorcycles, and a tractor. Down the road along the pond, past the picnickers and back again.
We lingered awhile longer, watching the ominous clouds drift nearby with a few stern rumbles, then gently drift away, to do no harm.
As I said, a perfect day.