Our Festive Fourth
Fourth of July celebrations came back to Ames this weekend, and they were greeted the same way you greet a long-lost, beloved friend. 
Last year on the Fourth, Ames virtually was shut down. No fireworks. No parade. Yes, the coronavirus pandemic had done its nasty work all too well. Ames was a ghost town a year ago.
But not so, thankfully, this Independence Day Weekend. The fireworks were back last night, on the Third, blasting into the night sky outside Jack Trice Stadium. As in years past, we had a great view from Reiman Gardens, where our only problems came from mosquitoes that apparently were also trying to make up for lost time.
This morning, another old “friend of the Fourth” showed up again in Ames — the city’s annual Independence Day Parade. As it has for years — except, of course, for last year — this colorful event wound its way up Main Street and down Fifth.
Today’s parade had its usual impressive array of marchers and vehicles — though not as many bands as in the past.
And, as always, it had plenty of spectators lining the streets — thousands of people. They were young and old and everything in between. Many of them had arrived early — all the better to stake out those shady places against buildings and underneath trees.
Parades are for children — unless, of course, you’re a parent or grandparent, in which case you also are allowed to enjoy the spectacle as it marches by. But the kids are really the focus — and that’s why so many of the marchers were handing out — or tossing out — such child-friendly goodies as candy and frisbees and even small, colorful footballs.
Everyone was in a happy mood, and it was good to see that, considering the divisive political and social culture we’re in now — one in which even the flag has become a partisan symbol. No doubt, there were Democrats and Republicans and others in the parade crowd — folks who vehemently would disagree with each other, if they started talking about anything political or cultural.
But for a few minutes today, there they were — alongside each other, and smiling as the parade made its way beside them. If only this one bit of unity could somehow extend to some of the rest of our daily lives. Wishful thinking, huh?
Before today’s parade, I walked through our Old Town neighborhood, as I have done every Fourth of July for years. There was the usual display of flags and bunting outside the homes that, over the years, have put out such things. Again, a reassuring sign that things are — if not completely normal — at least getting closer to it.
And perhaps that’s the best we can hope for. We’ve all been through a terrible time in this country and the world — and anything that brings back a sense of normalcy is good, isn’t it?