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Our first Fourth of July in Yucaipa was in 2002. We were invited by friends to go to Redlands to watch fireworks. After driving around in circles for nearly an hour looking for a place to park, I suggested we give up and watch the fireworks on the television box at home. We pulled into our driveway in Chapman Heights, our house faces the high school, and as we got out of the car, a fireworks show began over our heads. We were surprised, to say the least, and dragged out a couple of lawn chairs and enjoyed the show that I pretended was just for us. Since then, we've always been home for the Fourth of July. We grill something meaty, make a couple of dips, fill the refrigerator with cold drinks and make sure we have a new keg in the keggerator. For the first few years our little cul-de-sac had 10 kids under the age of 10. Slip 'n slides were set up, trikes and Barbie cars zipped around in an impromptu parade, and sparklers danced as daylight faded. The ice cream man made an appearance and the kids soon had pink or blue lips, stained by the treat they picked. The adults fired up grills, cracked open beverages and set out long tables to hold all the goodies. A stereo played classic rock and there was a lot of laughter and a little bit of dancing. When night finally fell, we settled into our chairs and faced west, Ben sitting happily in my lap. The show began accompanied by the requisite oohs and ahhs. We could even see the Redlands show off in the distance. Some years, we were joined by our parents. My father-in- law, a retired Marine Master Gunnery Sergeant, was always in motion. He helped clean before the party, sweeping the patio or setting up chairs, calling my name to see if I needed anything. I remember going to the store and as I left, he called, "You holler when you get back and I'll help you with the groceries." It was more a command than an offer. I got back and didn't want to disturb his family time in the back yard where they were busy swatting flies so I brought in the bags by myself. He looked so disappointed. I immediately wished I had let him help. My mom and step-dad have come out, bringing my sister's and step-sister's kids. Tim, my husband, spent a solid hour jumping off the diving rock with each one into the pool, releasing them at the last minute. One year Benjamin, who was five then, got a giant splinter in the back of his leg. He screamed bloodcurdling murder and I rushed him to the emergency room. Along the way, he started to settle down and I told him that once we got there, he better still be in pain. I was missing my own party for this. Filling out the admittance form in the spot marked, "Nature of Emergency," I couldn't very well write "splinter." I would be banned from emergency rooms nationwide. Instead, I wrote, "Shard of wood impaled in upper rear left thigh." Sounded a little more emergency-ee. The doctor looked at the "shard of wood" and, while two nurses held Ben down, tried to dig it out. It was ugly. Ben was being tortured and I wanted to yell, "NEVER MIND!" and grab my son, go home, and eat guacamole. Finally they gave up and said it would probably work itself out. Two weeks later, it did. Now, most of the kids from back then have moved away. There are new little ones, but Ben is one of only two original kids and is too old for "kid stuff." It doesn't bother him. He's more interested in hanging with teenagers and playing a pick-up game of basketball. He doesn't miss the slip 'n slide or being thrown into the pool. He only rides his bike now to get from Point A to Point B, not for the fun of going around in circles. And Grandpa's not around to help sweep the patio. Life's an evolution with trusty constants, a lot of memories, and hopefully few regrets. People grow and change, move away or die, babies are born and there are a few more wrinkles in the light of day. But one great constant we enjoy, the day we celebrate our freedom and the blessing that is America, is the Fourth of July. I have great memories from my childhood and know that Ben will too. Except for the year I had him professionally tortured at the hospital for a splinter. Wishing you a happy and safe Fourth of July… ~ Courtney Image Up Advertising & Design and the Yucaipa Chamber of Commerce accept no responsibility for content, accuracy or opinion, expressed or implied, of articles, announcements or advertisements in this magazine. Inclusion of advertisements does not carry with it any endorsement, actual or implied, for the product or service advertised. Image Up Advertising & Design and the Yucaipa Chamber of Commerce do not accept responsibility or liability for damage occasioned through use of products or services advertised herein. All items submitted are subject to editing and are not guaranteed to be printed per the discretion of the publisher. Contents of this magazine, including all text and photographs, are protected by copyright and may not be reproduced or reprinted without the expressed permission of Image Up Advertising & Design and/or the Yucaipa Chamber of Commerce. "Our Yucaipa" © Submission Policy We're looking for fun, interesting and heart- warming stories about life in Yucaipa. If you've been here for generations or are fairly new, we invite everyone to share. We're accepting photos and articles about events from 100 years ago to events from last week. And if you have something planned for next month, let us know. We'd love to help you promote it. Yucaipa really is a great place to live and this is one way to acknowledge that. This is our publication about our town… Our Yucaipa. If you have any questions, or would like more information about advertising in "Our Yucaipa," please call Courtney Taylor at 909-797-3647 or e-mail YucaipaNews@yahoo.com. And be sure to go to imageup.uberflip.com to see all the issues on line. "Our Yucaipa" Invites You… 2 OUR YUCAIPA | JULY 2014 OUR YUCAIPA | JULY 2014 3 Contents Happy bee. YUCAIPA PHOTOS WANTED! If you have a photo you'd like to submit for consideration for a future cover, please send high-res digital photos to YucaipaNews@yahoo. com. If we select your photo for the cover, you will receive a $25 gift card for a local restaurant. Editor/Publisher Courtney Fox Taylor Contributing Writers Stacey Parr Jaelin Palmer Michele Peters Randy Peters Yucaipa Chamber of Commerce Account Executive Stacey Parr Staff Photographer Hilary Peters If you have suggestions or would like to submit an article to Our Yucaipa, call Image Up at 909-797-3647. To place an ad, call STacey parr aT 909-435-5042 Our Yucaipa Magazine 4-7 Chamber Of Commerce News Business news around town 8-9 This Summer's Bucket List Make memories this summer 10-11 Let's Go on a Picnic Pretty spots and picnic suggestions 12 Movies in the Park And at Riley's! 14 Middle of the Road Patches fills in Fourth of July

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