Betty Birney’s Blog

As soon as I posted the riddle yesterday, I decided I got it wrong! I think it goes like this:

“Why is the Fourth of July?”

The correct answer is “Yes.” When the person being questioned looks puzzled, the questioner explains, “Y is the Fourth of July …. the fourth letter.” And laughs hysterically, having put something over on the other person.

I don’t know. Neither version seems quite as uproarious as they did when I was eight or nine!

But thinking of this reminded me how much I’ve always loved riddles and puzzles. I’m going to revisit some of those in the near future. For a couple of knock-knock jokes, check out Humphrey’s Notebook in the Humphreyville section of the website. Humphrey updates his notebook once or twice a week.

 In case you didn’t get any fireworks on the 4th, here are some pretty spectacular fireworks from a program at the Hollywood Bowl last summer.  

Fourth of July is the Great American Holiday and I love it (even if I never have been able to tolerate the loud noise of fireworks).

Last year was a spectacular 4th as we LAYAS (L.A. Young Adult authors) got to judge the South Pasadena, CA Balloon Parade, wearing crowns and sashes. We got to be in the parade, too! Actually, judging the parade was really difficult and a lot of pressure. All of this was thanks to the incomparable Lisa Yee (http://lisayee.com), author of Millicent Min, Girl Genius, Stanford Wong Flunks Big-Time and the new So Totally Emily Ebers. But this year, Lisa is in Columbus, Ohio as the 2007 Thurber Residence Author-in-Residence so the parade is passing us by!

LAYA Judges Eileen Rosenbloom (Stuck Down), me, Cecil Castelucci (Beige; Boy Proof), Amy Goldman Koss (Poison Ivy, The Girls), Lisa Yee, Kerry Madden (Louisiana's Song)

I have no real plans for this 4th except some work, staying inside the air-conditioning (it’s been 100 here in L.A.), and trying to find the wonderful James Cagney film, YANKEE DOODLE DANDY on TV. If it’s not on, it’s not a big problem because: I know it all by heart, along with the scores of most major Broadway and film musicals.

(My Fair Lady is going to be at the Ahmanson in L.A. this year and if they can’t find a leading lady, I’m available. I could step right into the part. The fact that I can’t sing doesn’t hold me back a bit.)

We can usually catch some fireworks right in our back yard, from the Hollywood Bowl, the Studio City celebration down the street at CBS, or something in Woodland Hills.

By the way, the best fireworks display I’ve seen BY FAR was in Laguna Beach, CA many years ago. My dad’s cousin Jane and husband Allen took us out on the rocks to see a private fireworks display put on by the local residents right over the water. Second best: Kirkwood, MO fireworks in Kirkwood Park, where the best viewing spot is across the street from my sister’s house. You’re all invited! Dinner, too! (You’re welcome, Janet.)

But this year, I’ll be a contented, stay-at-home Yankee Doodle Dandy … though I did keep my crown from last year.

FOURTH OF JULY BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS: My favorite description of an all-American Fourth of July is in Mary Cantwell’s fabulous memoir, American Girl. One of my favorites of all memoirs, and I love memoirs. Also, for the most American books possible, I always recommend Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House books. I reread them every few years and to me, they are the best depiction of the American spirit possible. And the Betsy-Tacy books for Pure Americana.