The fellowship of the hill: Watching the fireworks from Pastor Norm's place

We watched the fireworks on the 4^th this year from the same spot we have watched them for many years now – from the hill behind Pastor Norm's house. In fact, excluding last year when our family was on sabbatical, the hill has been our seat of choice for viewing Chetek's firework displays almost from the first summer we lived here. Of course, we aren't the only ones who have parked ourselves on that incline over the years. Others have done the same – some since us and some way before us – but together we form a loose-knit “Fellowship of the Hill”.

On Monday night, we sat next to the Madison clan. I recall when Amber was in middle school and her older sisters were either in high school or in college. Now Amber, Leslie, Heather and Kara all have families of their own Their whole brood was out on the hill the night of the 4^th and like Linda and I ten years ago, they were chasing their little ones around trying to get them to sit down for the show. Their careers have scattered them to the wind – New York, Madison, the Cities and Menomonie – but Liberty Fest is like a great family reunion which brings the exiles home (much to Grandma Madison's delight).

This was Brianna's first year on the hill

The McClurkens were to our left – as they have sat for as long as I can remember. The girls weren't with them – Cailey lives in Kansas City now, Sarah just graduated from high school and Rosie must have been with friends - but Ed and Barb brought company with them who had a small gaggle of children of their own. When their fellowship, Red Cedar Presbyterian Church, was still gathering a few families from there would often join us out on the hill as well. I'm embarrassed to say I don't recall their names now even though the boys and their mother helped with VBS for several years running.

Somewhere along the line, the Waterhouses began to watch the fireworks from there. Denise now lives in Hudson and Cassie in Knoxville but Shannon was with them Monday night and while they parked themselves to the right of the Madisons, I made a point to visit as it was getting dark (Shannon and I laughed about Samuel L. Jackson's narration of Adam Mansbach's Go the F**k to Sleep and Renee and I spoke of spiritual things – this is, for me, par for the course for discussions on the hill). I remember fondly the nights when it was the Waterhouse girls, their cousin, Jen, and sometimes a friend or two that would squeeze onto a blanket and giggle away both before and during the fireworks.

She's been coming to this spot for years

A few years ago, the Lees also began to congregate with the rest of us on the hill. Cameron and Nathan were with mom and dad (who sat with Randy and Renee) and Eric sat down the way with Matt (who used to sit closer to our blanket). But missing were Erin (home), Liz (who lives in Rice Lake now) and Hannah. For a couple of years, Steve and Kari used to join us as well until Steve got a boat and now they enjoy the fireworks from the lake and make up that great nautical light show that wows all us landlubbers.

Over the years we have brought guests – my own folks, the Halburs from Minneapolis, and – this year – the Marxes from Fosston. Like everyone else, they have spread out across the yard taking their place with the rest of us and entering into the fellowship of the hill. Most years, kids from youth group – be it Uhf or Focus – have been in attendance as well. The year we did SonCastle Faire VBS ('99), David grabbed our inflatable alligator, put it in the water, crawled out on it and managed to watch the fireworks while laying on his back floating out in the bay. Somehow, he remained completely dry. I recall the year when someone dared Kale to swim out to one of the pontoon boats and tell them Jesus loved them. He did. When he finally got to the boat, he grabbed on to the deck and said what he had come to say. Apparently, the boat's owner was not amused and told him to get off his boat in no uncertain terms. It was, to say the least, a witnessing opportunity that did not go according to plan. One 4^th, Dan brought his lap top and while we waited for the sky to darken, he played Worms with all comers. But most times, those kids from group who came would spread out on blankets and join in the random chatter and banter that is common to people who are happy to be together on the 4^th after a long day of parade watching and picnicking.

Case in point was the company that we kept Monday night: Behind us were our kids (minus Charlie who was sacked out between Linda and I), Brianna, the young woman who is living with us presently, the Holmbecks, Sarah L and all of the De Yarman brood. The kids were laughing and enjoying themselves and joining in with little Emily and Olivia Holmbeck's “oohing” and “aahing” at every aerial burst just like the Fritzs, Tonya, and David used to join my kids when they did the same when they were little. Who knows? - if we're here long enough the day may come when like Yvonne and Dennis on Monday night, we'll be delighting in the “oohs” and “aahs” of our own grandchildren taking their place in the great fellowship of the hill. By that time, the make-up of our group will most likely have changed, but as long as there are little ones to squeal at fireworks, there will be people to gather behind the parsonage of the Advent Christian Church and be reminded of what a wonderful thing it is to live in this country we call home.