Fireworks, swimming, boating, lots to eat and family members gathering are all thoughts of the Fourth of July in the minds of most young children. And, then there are the parades, music and colorful decorations. Ah, the Fourth of July in our younger days.

However, in our advanced years, perhaps the more prominent thoughts are “how to I do all that is necessary” to make this 4th of July safe, fun and, above all else, have enough food.

As our family gathered on one July 4 at the home place in Kentucky, each member had a duty to plan and execute the exciting holiday. Our oldest daughter and I were assigned to do the last-minute grocery shopping. We were delighted to drive the seven or eight miles into the shiny, newly-opened Houchen’s grocery store in Cave City.

As we entered the store, we noted the management had gone all out to display numerous things everyone needed for the big day. This new store had a whole front of glass windows. There were many traditional flags, displays of potato chips and a whole window full of two-liter, plastic Coca-Cola bottles. The popular soft drink display was not easy to ignore. The bottles, which were stacked at least five feet high and maybe three cases wide, stood near the cashier’s aisles. The dark liquid glistened through the plastic bottles in the strong sunlight coming through the windows.

Yes, Cokes were on our list, and we decided to make the drinks the last items on our list to pick up. We selected the ground beef and added the buns, potato chips and pickles and quickly filled our shopping cart. Of course, there was milk and ice cream with plenty of ice cream cones, the latter to enjoy while they cut down on dish washing.

The potatoes and eggs for the salad were already on the stove at the farm, being cooked early so this staple would be cooled for preparation by dinner time, and the iced tea was being brewed .This was an assignment for another member of the family.

We selected several melons, and triumphantly added enough Coca-Cola in cans to satisfy the large gathering. At last, we headed for the cashier’s aisle, ready to hurry back to the family fun.

As the cashier was tallying our bill, we heard an enormous BANG! And, then several more rapidly.

We suddenly felt a sticky blast of liquid all over our checkout aisle, but it miraculously missed our grocery bags.

The sun had heated the bottles that had been so carefully stacked in the window, causing the explosion. Everyone in the customer-filled store hurried to see if the fireworks had started early, only to be greeted by a shower of amber rain.

The manager and all the employees hurried to remove the bottles from the window and started mopping up the sticky mess, all the while profusely apologizing for the inconvenience.

Luckily, our groceries had been far enough away to escape the deluge, but we would have to change clothes when we arrived at the farm.

This unexpected Fourth of July fireworks show gave us a huge laugh as we drove to our family celebration and more laughter as we relived the mishap.

T&D Correspondent Bettylou R. Terry can be reached by phone at 803-793-3381.

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