So my friends, those "lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer" are finally here. What do we do with them? Swelter? Loose our cool? Get hot under the collar? Well, there are a few ways we can enjoy ourselves and cool off. Now, if you have kids, it can be a slight challenge. You see, I have discovered that when you are in the "rat race" 5 to 7 days a week, you look forward to the weekend and then the kids drive you nuts. You too, want to have fun, but you have to behave yourself because you have to show a good example for the children. Having children of my own, I know what it's like -- you want to be a kid yourself but you just can't let loose. So, here are your choices a) Go to Lake Tahoe and go swimming at the lake ($7.00 entrance fee); b) go to a casino at Reno, Carson, or locally and try to cool off (what fun!! remember, you can't take the kids there); c) try to find a water park and wonder i) will some nut steal your kid; ii) catch some formidable disease, iii) SPEND A LOT OF MONEY or here's the good part - - you can take a mini-van loaded with kids, grandma, neighbors' kids and your wife/husband and come on up to Virginia City. The weather is always cooler and ALL of you can have real, honest-to-goodness fun.

The maddening crowds are NOT here. Once you park your car, you have to hoof it and actually WALK (good for everyone's heart). You can be a BIG Kid and a LITTLE KID; you can play miner for the hour or two (mining tour =real cheap $6.00); walk through The Way it Was Museum ($4.00) or take the VC Trolley ($4.00). Can catch the Gunfighter's Performance; gamble (if you must); a special treat is to have lunch at The Virginia City Jerkey Company all the way at the South End of C Street; and the shop-a-holic can have a field day with all the shops lining both sides of the street.

Now, don't forget, Virginia City is very quiet until about 8:30 am (we all live here), but since this IS THE 4th of JULY weekend, you just have to do half of your sightseeing, shopping and breakfast BEFORE noon, because the parade starts just about then, give or take 1/2 hour. So, you have to find a place by the sidewalk and plant yourself there to watch.

I have to tell you about this special parade. It usually lasts about 45 minutes. All the floats are home-made so each and every one is unique. A lot of love, creativity and ingenuity go into them. We also have veterans representing the wars they were in (bless them all) and, of course, what is Virginia City without people parading in their best Period finery. These are not costumes, these are real clothes. We wear these as often as we can and for no apparent reason. The entire parade is MC'd by our unofficial parade Master of Ceremonies, Bobby Kittle, even though scripted, is ad-libbed quite frequently.

After the parade, you continue with the sights, sounds and smells of an old, old real western city. To really find out who lived here, an excursion to the Cemetery is a necessary stop. There are actually about 15 graveyards.

If, by the early afternoon, you have not been all tuckered out, the fireworks begin at 9:00 pm. Sponsored by the Virginia City Chamber of Commerce and donations by shopowners and many, many local individuals. Bring your blankets, chairs, beer, soda, water, babies, strollers, find a comfy, grassy spot anywhere and watch in peace and cool quiet, some of the best fireworks I have had the opportunity to see.

I hope to see many of you here for the weekend. All are welcome in our beautiful City on the Mountain. You don't have to bring a ton of cash to have a TON O' FUN with the entire family.

Have a safe and healthy Fourth of July and celebrate with gusto our Nation's Birthday.

Til next we meet, be well,

Grace