For me, our annual 4^th of July family party signifies the real beginning of summer. This year both of my daughters and their children will be spending a good portion of the week with us on the pond. I am so excited to take the little ones fishing and tubing. As I think back on all my fond holiday memories, there is one year in particular that really stands out.
   I am the oldest of nine and that year all my brothers and sisters, along with their families, came for a few days. Being the oldest and the host, I always take it upon myself to be the activities coordinator. After preparing breakfast, I went and installed the volleyball net. Being OCD and knowing that the net would have to endure heavy abuse, I used extra heavy rope and anchors that screw into the ground so the net wouldn’t budge under the strain.
   After lunch it was time to hit the water. I had the boat all warmed up and two matching tubes tied behind it. I explained to those that wanted to participate that we were going to have the 1^st annual Tubing Survival Challenge. The rules were simple: the first opponent to fall off the tube and hit the water was out. We drew for positions, and then the games began. It was so entertaining that even the neighboring camps were watching.  My first opponent was my brother Sean. We must have been going around and around for over five minutes kicking at each other’s tubes, engaged in hand to hand combat trying to flip the other’s tube – all while the driver of the boat brought us through choppy wakes trying to dump us. I decided a new approach was needed. As our tubes were about to come together again, I jumped off mine and landed squarely on Sean’s back. It startled him, which was almost worth it right there, but it became instantly apparent that this was not the best approach. We both looked ahead and saw the convergence of the perfect storm wave and barely had time to yell, “Oh shit!” before we were air born, tumbling and somersaulting on top of the water for quite a distance before submerging. Once we re-surfaced and realized we were okay (after doing a body check for broken parts), Sean was declared the winner because I hit the water first. Hearing the applause and cheers from the shoreline made it worth it though! The contest continued for a few more hours and no one got seriously hurt.
   As the sun started to set, we enjoyed a great barbecue and then started setting up for our fireworks display. There was a canoe tied up along the end of the dock so that the discharged fireworks could be thrown in it. Our fireworks display began with my brothers Bryan and Sean orchestrating an assortment of rockets.  As we were enjoying the fireworks, there was a mishap – one of the rockets exploded on the launch pad as it was being lit, which sent Bryan and Sean scrambling for safety. Bryan was the closest to the dock back to shore and he sprinted that way. Sean must have sensed that the dock exit wasn’t fast enough, so he jumped into the canoe which was about two feet below the height of the dock. Have you ever seen anyone try to jump down into a floating canoe when they sense their butt is on fire? I did and it was the funniest thing ever! He hit the center of the canoe, which immediately rolled and sent him forward in the most awkward belly flop straight into the water. Once I realized no one was hurt, I laughed so hard I cried. That will teach him for besting me in the tubing challenge earlier!
   After the fireworks concluded, I noticed that there were some Roman candles left over. I had a great idea! I challenged my brother Ethan to a duel. We would light the fuse, walk away from each other until the first shot was fired, then turn around and fight like men. So we did just that. We made it about ten feet away from each other as the first shot fired. We quickly turned around and aimed at each other.  Ethan’s next shot hit me in the leg, and I had the presence of mind to question my initial decision to suggest this duel. As his third shot hit me square in the chest, it was time for an evasive retreat. I dove behind a car, as did he. There we were, shooting up cars, until all ten of our bullets had fired. I think I lost that contest too.
   It was getting late so I figured we needed to play something safer. I decided that laser tag would be fun. Upon the signal to start, our team advanced forward. As I approached the road, I was surprised that we hadn’t encountered the other team, until it was too late – it was an ambush! They were hiding amongst the cars along the road. My teammates fled around the sides of the yard but my easiest route of escape was to run down the middle through the trees. Do you remember me telling you about the volleyball net that I had secured in the middle of the yard? I didn’t, until I ran into it at full speed. My face ran into the six-foot-high net and stopped immediately; the rest of my body continued at full speed.  Momentum carried my lower body forward and upward until I was in a completely horizontal position.  At that point, I dropped the six feet to the ground, which knocked the wind out of me. As I lay there in pain and gasping for breath, both my daughters came up from behind and simultaneously shot me with their lasers. I lost that game too.
   For the next day, I walked around with what looked like graph paper markings on my face from the net, which caused continued laughter from my family. I couldn’t help but laugh either – that was quite the eventful day. You may think that I have learned from my experience, but you would be wrong. If I had the chance to do it all again, I would! 
   Wishing you a happy and SAFE 4^th of July holiday!