I’m a little late getting my blog posted today because we were out taking part in the first half of a very traditional, small-town Fourth of July celebration. We started off at Boy Scout Troop 7’s annual pancake breakfast in the parking lot of the grange, adjoining the route of Central Point’s parade. Folks had arrived early to set up their chairs and blankets along the route, with prime spots in the shade (it will be over 100 degrees here today, as it has been all week) going quickly. After breakfast, we simply strolled to a spot to stand and take in the pageantry. The route is long enough, the population small enough and, with four other parades today within a 30-mile radius, the competition close enough that the “crowd” is only two or three people deep, at most. Allow me to share a few highlights: The parade kicked off with siren-blaring police vehicles, a flyover from the Air National Guard and the trooping of the colors.    These were followed by conveyances of all sorts: patriotic, antique and new   and utilitarian.     Some came with four wheels,   or two  or just one. There were marchers and performers, vets and and ‘vettes. Mixed in were local businesses (retailers and real estate agents), dance groups and local radio stations. Children along the route eagerly awaited handouts of candy — some were lucky enough to snag beach balls — while their elders got flyers advertising everything from teeth whitening to an upcoming boxing match. (America was built on free enterprise, after all!) Now we’ll take a breather, enjoy a little barbeque, and then walk over to a park a block from our home to watch the fireworks display launched from the fairgrounds about a mile distant as the crow flies. Nothing big, nothing fancy, but a very enjoyable celebration of our nation’s birth, nonetheless. I hope your Fourth may be safe and fun as well! — Patty Vanikiotis, associate editor/copy editor