There was something “special” about the Fourth of July this year. It is hard to explain, but there was an “electricity” to it that was more than normal.

There were more boats on the lake than I have ever seen. The bay at Long Point State Park was solid with them.

Boats were anchored everywhere and people were jumping in for a swim. There were so many boats that we decided against trying to put ours in the water because of all of the wave action and traffic on the lake. It was like a “zoo” out there.

It didn’t dampen our spirits though since we had plenty of conversation and friends were visiting. We had missed seeing many of them last year because of COVID.

I knew things were really big when I went to Hogan’s Hut and the sign on the ice storage bin said: “Sorry we are out of ice… getting more soon. Have a wonderful Fourth!” Inside all of the check-out lines were backed up and beer and pop were in great demand. Everyone was in a good mood–it was a happy Fourth!

I got to thinking about whether there were any comparisons to this post-COVID Fourth of July–a time when Americans were coming out of a great calamity which had dominated their lives and they were looking forward to better times. I was too young to really remember much then, but I have to think that this might have been the spirit of the country on July 4, 1946. World War II was over, friends and families were getting back together, and the country was looking forward to peace and prosperity once again.

Whatever it was, there was a good spirit in the air this year. And, I thought, why not? Isn’t this the day that the Declaration of Independence was signed? Remember that Preamble?

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” That is something to celebrate and feel good about!

At dinner on the deck with our friends and family, I raised my glass and toasted: “To our country on its 245th year, Happy Birthday!”

As the day ended and the sun had set, there was that quietness and lull that you experience every year just prior to the fireworks. A friend of ours from D.C. sat quietly near the water’s edge soaking it all in–loving and appreciating it, glad she was an American.

As the red flares sponsored by the Lake Association began to glow, the local fireworks began–those that are technically illegal in New York but which you can purchase on a “buy one, get one free” basis right across the border in Pennsylvania. I have never seen so many going up into the darkening sky as I did last week.

Then there was the crescendo of the major fireworks. Though Lakewood and Midway had cancelled them, Mayville and Bemus Point had scheduled them in the usual 10 p.m. time-slot.

There had been a special fundraising effort to bring them back in Bemus and the organizers of that did not disappoint.

I think that the spectacle of continual fireworks in Bemus must have lasted 15 minutes. It was one the most brilliant I had ever seen on the lake.

It was indeed a special Fourth of July!

Rolland Kidder is a Stow resident.