I love Flagstaff.
It's our crazy uncle to the north. The city that shows up to family functions late, if at all, reeking of cheap liquor and Pinesol.
An eclectic explosion of free thinkers, loggers, aging hippies, Gen X slackers, Valley expats and weekend family gawkers, one would expect such a scene somewhere in Oregon or Northern California. But just a couple hours north of the conservative bastion that spawned Barry Goldwater and John McCain? It's another world entirely.
As we have for the past few years, my family trudged up the hill to our place in Munds Park for 4th of July weekend. 20 miles south of Flag, and right off the I-17, it is the perfect spot. Close enough to town for entertainment and necessities, but far enough removed to enjoy the bit of seclusion that one envisions for an A-frame cabin in the woods.
Circumstances keeping us down in the Valley until Friday, we hit the road mid-morning on the fourth. Unfortunately, that meant we missed the parade in downtown Flagstaff and the local Munds Park version as well. No matter, we made it into downtown Flag shortly after one, where we met my folks, who had come up the prior day.
With my niece, Amber, in tow, Brandi, the boys and I met up with my mom and dad at an arts & crafts festival in Wheeler Park. For five bucks, we were able to bounce the boys crazy in a bounce-house/inflatable slide smorgasbord. We perused the craft stands, sampled some barbeque and watched the boys dance to a local blues band before piling back in the car to hit the next venue.
The Continental Country Club has been the highlight of Fourth of July's past, but it served as the consolation prize this year. The local symphony was to be accompanied by a laser show at the outdoor amphitheater this year. TICKETS WERE FREE! Alas, you still had to have tickets. All three thousand were sold out before we even knew the event was scheduled. No fear, we would hit the country club in style, and have ourselves a grand old time.
And we did.
If anything, we had a far better time this year with the sparser crowd. While the cool people of Flagstaff rocked out to lasers and classical music, we watched another local band, enjoyed great food and drink (Stone IPA on tap for $3!!!) and splendid company. Some family friends have a condo in the area, and we hooked up with them. With little ones of their own, it afforded the adults (I guess you can include me) the opportunity to catch up while the kids wrought havoc on the golf course. As with years past, there were fun activities like a water balloon toss. Unlike past years, however, other participants got more than they bargained for when we turned it into a full on war. There is an empty cooler of water and a drenched contestant somewhere who will unequivocally tell you that victory went to Team Slaybaugh.
Heading back to the cabin, parents as wiped out as kids, we opted to forego the fireworks. With only one display slotted for the entire area, it would have required 15 miles of travel on unpaved road to Mormon Lake. They weren't going to get cookin' until 9 PM either. With little eyelids getting heavier and heavier until closing up shop for the day on the drive home, we opted to finish the evening on the front deck of the cabin. After carefully transferring the sleeping boys from car seats to beds, we put on sweatshirts, cracked open a bottle of red for the white and blue, and stared up at where the stars should have been. We were only disappointed that a cloud cover had muted the heavens for a minute or two. Soon we heard faraway booms and saw faint traces of light silhouette the pines before us. Inconceivably, we served as the western outpost for the fireworks display. We could not make out the colors nor the patterns, just the flashes. It was actually a bit Orwellian, as if the War of the Worlds had just been launched on the far side of the mountain. Mormon Lake seemed an odd choice of epicenter, but ... to celebrate a nation born of cannon fire and rocket glare, it was ... perfect.
Happy Birthday, America.
- The Slaybaughs
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Thanks for taking us along on your trip, P. Some of those pics made me laugh out loud...I'm pretty sure the cat thinks I'm crazy :) Glad you had a wonderful holiday...
This story brought rushing back memories of 25 yrs past. My husband and I were owner-operaters in the trucking industry. When we would leave CA coming east we would always push to reach Flag so we could sleep in somewhat comfort because of the heat in the desert. In the winter we would pray that it wasn't snowing in Flag because of the huge accumulation in that area on I-40. Thanks for the blast from the past!
Paul - I have not been to Flagstaff for years, great post about the area, and the 4th. Hope you and your family had a wonderful holiday!
That was fun! Those little guys must have had a blast. I bet they love playing with their big cousin. You have a beautiful family, Paul. I'm glad you got to go relax together and just enjoy each other. That porch time is precious.
LISA - Glad you enjoyed the show. Too bad most of the pictures came from an inferior camera, but I think the vibe of the trip still comes through unscathed. Thanks for coming along.
ANNE - I remember similarly praying for clear roads when I would follow the northern route back to college after winter vacation. Between those trips and others growing up, I can't count how many times I have been snowed in along the 40 or the 17. Thanks for reading.
SHARON - I adore Flagstaff. It is difficult to imagine when we are down here in 110+ degrees that the mornings and evenings still provide sweatshirt weather just an hour and a half north.
ELAINE - Thank you :) We had a terrific, if not entirely relaxing, time. You should have heard the boys squeal in that bounce house. Priceless.
Those boys of yours are so dang cute. It is obvious that you all had a great time! Happy 7th of July!
AMANDA - Thank you! We have decided to have sixty more. If Jason can sell glowsticks for a buck ...
Kids grow up so fast... my boys are 12, 12, an 16. Enjoy, Enjoy. It looked like a wonderful holiday weekend.
Paul, great slide show with the family and your trek away from the Phoenix area for the 4th. I always want to visit Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon when I get north of your way some day. Looks like all had a fun time even with the heavy eye lids toward the end of the day. Thanks for the travel log. Bunch of cutie pies in your clan!
dang, man.. It's probably too hot for the train park so I guess we need to meet up in Flag some time this summer. Lori, the kids and I made it to the parade in Flagstaff on the 4th and had a blast. We love it up there too. See ya around..
JUDY - They do indeed. Preschool starts for my oldest in the fall. I'm still in shock over it.
GARY - Thank you much, sir. Those two boys and the missus really do have a way of making a fellow look more presentable.
NICK - Sorry we missed you, buddy! We'll be back up a few more times before the end of the summer, so maybe we can get together up in the pines one of these days.
PAUL - I'm surprised that there weren't photos of your traditional sparkler display. Regardless, sounds like you and the family had a great time.
ADAM - That display was banned some time ago, Adam.
PAM - Look at those cuties! Thanks for sharing your holiday pics. We are greatly enjoying their little days, at least 90% of the time. The remaining 10% of the time we want to shove corkscrews through our eyeballs, but hey, welcome to parenthood, right?
Paul~I tried the corkscrew thing once......I wouldn't recommend it. Locking myself in the garage (because it's the only quiet place in the house) has been highly successful for me though. ; )
Paul, that was amazing. But I do have ask, what kind of camera are you using? It could be that these fantastic pictures are either a little out of focus or my eyes are going-not a surprise there. They would be the second thing to go,lol.
William - Your eyes are fine. We forgot the good camera at home, and were left to document the fun with my camera phone and my niece's camera. Interestingly enough, the camera phone took the vastly superior pictures. Oh well, we had fun even if the photos were not quite up to snuff. Hope you had a great fourth too.
Pam - I can't even hide in the garage. My older one knows how to unlock and open doors. It's preposterous.
Paul, I just adore seeing pictures of your family. Your boys are the greatest!
Paul~Mine are old enough to unlock and open doors too......they just know not to disturb Mom when I go to "my dark place"........; )
Paul - Jack is getting big! Thanks for the slideshow of your day together. How in the heck did Alex Trebek weasel his way into your family time? I am including this post in the Family Ties recap, along with a special photo of you.