Storytelling Sunday: 4th of July Edition

What 4th of July story should I offer up for Sian's Storytelling Sunday?  Should it be a story from my youth, of how I scrimped and saved my coins to go to the fireworks stand? A story of me, padding up to the plywood window on my summer calloused and dirty bare feet to buy "pandas" and "snakes" and "Piccolo Pete's"? And how I then hid these away so my brothers would not steal them, only to realize they could not be found on the 4th and the howling and gnashing of teeth that ensued among cries of "Thief!" and "Not Fair!" (never to mention the sheepish feeling of finding them in the bottom of my closet later that fall).
Or should it be a story circa 1984 when I am studying for the Bar Exam, living with my brother in an apartment in Manhattan Beach, and all the fun we had staying up late into the night on the Third  of July because we did not have to go to work the next day! We marinated ribs for the BBQ and prepared ingredients for award winning chili and played low-stakes poker. . . and I won.

No, I think the story I want to share is from the Summer of 1983.  Paul and I were living in Washington, D.C., our nation's capitol. We went down to the mall to participate in the festivities (the mall is the central area, with the Washington Monument in the middle, flanked by the Capitol, the White House, and the Lincoln Memorial). The symphony played, and there were thousands of people there. Late in the evening, we needed to use the restroom. There were long lines at the portable toilets. Not feeling like we were able to wait, we noticed a large bush at the end of the row of port-a-potties. We ducked behind the bush to relieve ourselves, and when we came out, we noticed that a line had formed behind us.  People were queuing up to use the bush as a bathroom!
Wishing you have a wonderful holiday weekend. Enjoy the fireworks and the good times with friends and families. May you savor and remember these times. And may you always find a bathroom when you need one!
To read more stories today or to join in, head on over to this link.