CARRYING ON A FAMILY TRADITION ON JULY 4th

By OLIVENE GODFREY

July 4th is a bitter-sweet holiday for son Barry and me now.
Recently, we have used our electric indoor grill more than
we have the outside Weber charcoal grill. But, Barry said
this week that he will cook our steaks on the charcoal
grill on the 4th as, "it is a family tradition for us."

The family tradition started in Florida before Barry was
born and my late husband, Ralph, did the 4th cooking on a grill down there. We continued the outside grill tradition during
the years when Barry was growing up and we were living in
northwest Georgia. When Barry was a teenager he took over
the grill cooking.

For about fifteen years, we hosted a birthday cook-out party on the Fourth with cake
and gifts for my late mother who looked forward to the event all year. And then six years ago, she became ill shortly
after the cookout-party and passed away. Then, four years
ago Ralph lost his battle with Parkingsons and died on
a hot day in August. My late sister, Joan, lived in
West Palm Beach, FL and wasn't able to come to the 4th
parties but she always sent a gift and usually called
on the phone and she passed away nearly two years ago.

Last year on the 4th Barry did some repair work on the
house and pulled a muscle in his groin, causing intense
pain and hasn't been able to lift as much as he used to.

But, Barry and I will be grateful this year that we are
able to carry on the family tradition on the 4th. And, we will remember all the happy times we had before our family
circle was broken.

Have a happy July 4th!

See you next time.