We’re chatting about Independence Day traditions this week, since it’s time to break out the sparklers this weekend. Guest starring today is Patti O’Shea to talk about her traditions and to give away a little midsummer holiday goody for you!
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Hi everyone!
Thanks for stopping in! I was asked to talk about my Fourth of July traditions, but aside from going to see fireworks when I was a kid, my family didn’t really have any. After thinking about it for a while, I decided to turn the blog over to Logan. He’s the hero of EDGE OF DAWN, my latest paranormal action/adventure romance, and his family does have Independence Day traditions.
To give you a little introduction, Logan is a troubleshooter for the Gineal–they’re a society of magic users who work covertly to protect humans from demons and other evil beings. He’s the second of five kids, although his brother is only a few minutes older, and he has three younger sisters. He grew up in a suburb of Chicago and now lives in Seattle, Washington.
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Independence Day for the Andrews clan means a trip to the cabin. When I was a kid and living at home, my parents packed us up in the minivan and we rode three hours plus from Naperville to Wisconsin.
Yeah, even though we can open a transit and walk through it from our house to the cabin, my folks still insisted on driving. Staying hidden means looking like everyone else. Everyone human. The plus part of the drive came because of my little sisters. We had to stop constantly for them.
The trek became more anticipated and less of a chore after I left home. Troubleshooter training starts at twelve and it was one of the few times of the year that I saw my family for more than a few hours at a time. Of course, it helped that I could open a transit from my mentor’s home to the cabin and didn’t have the endurance test known as the family car trip.
Let me tell you about the cabin. It’s located miles from this small town called Woodford–four buildings along a two-lane road and the tavern doubled as the general store. When I was young, the roads off the main drag were gravel and Dad would drive the van slowly. Real slowly. They’re paved now, but the entrance track to the cabin is still dirt and it’s steep and rutted.
Turning in, we’d always stop before going down to the house itself. From the top of the hill, we could see the lake with its island in the center, the cabin with its weathered cedar siding, and the rolling green surrounding the area. This was our property, including the man-made lake, and here we could use our magic when we played.
There are only two bedrooms. My folks take the bigger one, my three sisters get the other, and Kel and I get stuck with two fold-out beds in the great room. It isn’t too bad in the winter when the fire is going, but it’s not so terrific during the Fourth of July stay because there’s no sleeping in, not when the kitchen is only feet away.
Since the lake’s small, we couldn’t water ski, but we canoed, swam, and hiked around the perimeter. There were barbecues, and at night, we’d build bonfires in the pit and roast marshmallows. If my parents were feeling hokey, we’d sing. At least until we reached our teens.
And yeah, there were fireworks. We didn’t go to any formal display. My dad would buy a bunch and set them off on the dirt track out in front of the cabin. As kids, we all had to stay on the deck and watch from there, but when Kel and I were old enough, we were allowed to help.
Although there was one time our help wasn’t appreciated. You know the kind of fireworks they sell in the stores are a far cry from the really great stuff the pros shoot at the major shows. Well, Kel and I decided that a little magic would fix that. Hey, we were around thirteen–it seemed like a good idea at the time.
Dad shot off this bottle rocket and Kel and I directed our powers to it to make it explode in an enormous burst of colors. It was even bigger and more vibrant than what they shoot off at Navy Pier. We were out in what seemed like the middle of nowhere to a couple of suburban kids, but while the cabin and lake are private and safe, the neighbors were close enough to see what we shot into the sky. Yeah. Dad had a discussion with us. It wasn’t the first talk about our misuse of magic. Or the last.
Now, as adults, the time we spend together at the cabin is shorter, more rushed. Kel, Tris, and I all work as troubleshooters and we’re on call to handle problems even on the Fourth of July. It’s funny, though, how those miserable car trips with the arguing and the crying have become memories we laugh over now. It helps a lot not to be stuck in the minivan with my sisters for hours on end.
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To celebrate the June 30th release of Logan’s story, EDGE OF DAWN, I’m giving away a copy of IN THE MIDNIGHT HOUR. Just comment on the post and tell me your favorite family vacation memory or your worst. 
I remember car trips in the station wagon where my brother and I were roasting in the back, but my mom had a blanket over her legs in the front seat because she was freezing. Do I have to tell you that we didn’t get the air turned up any higher? So what tortures did you go through in the name of family fun?
June 29th, 2009 at 3:48 am
[...] all! I have the lovely and talented Patti O’Shea guest blogging at The Novelty Girls. And she’s giving goodies away. Stop by and comment for a chance to [...]
June 29th, 2009 at 6:44 am
Hi
Thank you for sharing. That was a terrific short story! I just love Patti O’Shea’s writing.
My favorite vacation memory is my cousins and I in the long back area of the station wagon as my dad drove us to camp, staring up at the sky when we laid down, feeling the steady motion of the car on our backs, and looking out the back window at the cars behind us & the trees whipping by. Yes, we did not have seat belts and yes, there were 5 of us crammed in there; we did not mind, nor was it illegal at that time and place.
Thank you
Love From Canada
xoxo
June 29th, 2009 at 9:37 am
Hi Patti. Love your books! Can’t wait to read Edge of Dawn!
Deb
June 29th, 2009 at 11:38 am
My favorite vacation was when I was little , my dad was in the army and we lived in Maryland so My mom and I would spend the whole summer camped out on the beach.
The beach is my absolutely fave place to go , from the crashing waves of the ocean to the soft sand.
June 29th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
Growing up we didn’t have any traditions for the Fourth either. We did lots of things and they all included fireworks of some kind.
I love Logan’s family tradition and I can’t wait to read Edge of Dawn.
June 29th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
Yay! thanks for coming to visit us, Patti!
My family always does a big BBQ and little neighborhood fireworks show in the court. Every brings their own and it’s a big show.
June 29th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
Having read a copy of Edge of Dawn (gloat gloat) I have to say I loved Logan.
and I got tingly at the idea of sharing a bedroom with Kel. Is that bad?
June 29th, 2009 at 5:08 pm
Oooooh, I hope I win.
OK, my least favorite vacation memory:
December 1998. JFK airport, going on a trip with my folks. We left for the airport around 5:30am, got there just ahead of a blizzard which first grounded our flight, then closed the airport. Guaranteed not to reopen until the next morning. Highway also shut down.
We luckily managed to get a room in the “crew” motel and hitched a ride with the crew bus. It was thoroughly disgusting. Woke up in the morning to find the police in the lobby–the night clerk had been robbed at gunpoint.
Got back to the airport for the same 8am flight we’d been supposed to be on the day before. About to take off, a light came on in the cockpit and we had to go back to the gate. We sat on the tarmac for TEN HOURS. By the time we took off, they just rolled the drinks cart into the middle of the aisle and put on the brake. Since no one had had anything to eat all day, they basically had to roll several people off the plain.
The vacation itself was nice enough, but the trip was horrific!!
June 29th, 2009 at 5:22 pm
My most memorable family trip? Well, it also includes my best friend (at the time) and her sister. Their mother was in the hospital, so the two stayed with my family.
We had planned to see some caves (somewhere in Ohio I believe). Me, my friend Shannon, her sister Jessica rode with my belated grandparents. Well my grandpa was suppose to follow my mother and uncle.
He got the bright idea to go his own way and we got lost. For fifteen minutes was grandma cussing him out which had my friend flabbergasted. Finally we got ourselves situated, and so I brought out the most raunchiest music where my grandma added commentary.
I so miss my grandparents. They were so down-to-earth and funny.
June 29th, 2009 at 7:53 pm
Rob,
Thanks for stopping by! There’s nothing quite like riding in the back of one of those old estate wagons and not having to worry about all the rules.
Riding in the “way back” was a treat.
Patti
June 29th, 2009 at 7:54 pm
Deb,
Thank you! I hope you enjoy the story!
Patti
June 29th, 2009 at 7:54 pm
Donna,
That sounds so cool! I wish I’d done something like that when I was a kid!
Patti
June 29th, 2009 at 7:55 pm
Shawna,
Thank you! The cabin didn’t show up in Logan’s story, but his brother uses it in his book. It was interesting seeing it through Logan’s eyes instead of Kel’s.
Patti
June 29th, 2009 at 7:56 pm
Crys,
Thanks for inviting me! BBQ sounds good. Hmm, maybe I can mention it to my dad.
Patti
June 29th, 2009 at 7:57 pm
Rowan,
Only if you don’t mind taking on Kel’s heroine and since I don’t write wimpy heroines… Well, it’s up to you.
Patti
June 29th, 2009 at 7:59 pm
Laura,
Oooh, that does sound like a nightmare! I hate getting stuck in the airport, and when weather is involved, it’s not like you can tell the airline to put you on another carrier. I’m glad you had a good time once you finally reached your destination.
Patti
June 29th, 2009 at 8:01 pm
Raonaid,
Your grandparents do sound wonderful! I’m sorry they’re gone, but at least you have some wonderful memories.
Patti
June 29th, 2009 at 9:53 pm
Hi Patti! I’m so looking forward to DAWN! THanks for the peek!!
When I was growing up we went to the local speedways especially on July 4th and camped out there the whole weekend! We didn’t have a camper but had tents and cooked out and games and of course I did alot of reading! I used to love to go wander off and find a shady place and lay out with my books! I got my hubby into racing and we went to the bigger racing at the local speedway here a couple of times on July 4th. But we too love watching NASCAR’s night race at Daytona so we’ll be doing that! Its the only sport I watch. I love it since I grew up with it! So it wouldn’t be a 4th of July weekend without our racing!
June 29th, 2009 at 9:56 pm
Sounds great! We are actually having a family reunion this weekend, a campout. I’m not camping out though. lol
June 30th, 2009 at 10:39 am
damn. I can’t intervene before she meets him?
June 30th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
Hi Cathie,
Thank you! Finding a shady place to read sounds ideal! We went up to a friend of the family’s cabin once and that was the best part–taking a book and disappearing for a while.
Patti
June 30th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
Amy,
I don’t blmae you! I don’t camp–not unless every hotel in a fifty mile radius was full and there absolutely no other choice. My idea of roughing it is no free high speed internet access.
Patti
June 30th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
Rowan,
Sorry, but that book is already written, so your only option is to take her on and fight for Kel.
Patti
July 1st, 2009 at 12:43 am
Worst family vacation was with my dad, mom, grandma, sister and 3 cousins going to California. We drove about 2,000 miles stuck in a small van. My dad is really bad about not wanting to stop so it was a very long trip.
July 1st, 2009 at 10:15 am
Danni,
That not stopping thing is tough. When you gotta go, you gotta go and just stretching your legs is a good thing.
Patti
July 1st, 2009 at 10:41 am
I think I was 6 and my brother was 4. We were hiking with our parents in Glacier National Park and someone misread the map. The short hike turned into an 8-hour death march… during which I managed to slip off a trail and cling to a small shrub (sort of like Beetle Bailey!) until my mom could hang over the edge and pull me back onto the trail!
July 1st, 2009 at 12:58 pm
Chris,
That’s scary! Do you have a fear of heights now? I had to laugh at the “death march” reference, though.
Patti
July 1st, 2009 at 1:55 pm
Gee, how did you guess?
July 1st, 2009 at 8:42 pm
Chris,
I have nightmares like that, where I’m hanging and trying not to fall. Heights are not my thing.
Patti
July 5th, 2009 at 8:43 pm
The winner of the autographed copy of IN THE MIDNIGHT HOUR is Shawna!
Thank you to everyone who commented; I enjoyed the conversation!
Patti