With fireworks displays all over the county this week, it’s a shame we can’t see them all. The fact they are all at the same time will make that hard.

I plan on sitting in my backyard and watching the fiery colors race into the night sky.

For me, this Fourth of July will offer a treat I haven’t had in more than a dozen years – the chance to sleep in on a holiday. My former job was at a small paper where I wore plenty of different hats.

July 4 would always entail getting up before dawn to cover a foot race. Then it was off to one or more neighborhood/community parades that morning, before it got too hot and humid. Yeah, good luck on that part. Sometimes there would be a baseball game in the afternoon or night. Late afternoon meant heading to the big Independence Day celebration to get some late afternoon pictures. It was a long and draining day, but it was different and kind of fun.

As sports editor, I had to cover a foot race. The Green Street Mile was a change from all the 5Ks and the occasional 10K runs. The race itself only took about 15 minutes, even for those that ended up walking most of the way. The downside, it started at 7 a.m. On the other hand, I could go to the office and write up the results and be done by 8:30.

Then it was off to the first of two down-home patriotic neighborhood parades. Floats were trailers pulled behind tractors or even wagons pulled behind riding lawnmowers. It wasn’t a big-time parade but it was big time fun for the kids who got to ride around and wave at neighbors.

This year will be more laidback. No alarm clock, no race, no parade and a rack of ribs. Maybe a little yard work, but just a little.

After 10 months in Baldwin County, I am just starting to get used to the whole concept of not having to work most nights and nearly every weekend. It’s nice to have a little time off, even if I do have to go back to work Friday.

Of course, some folks have the luxury of a four-day weekend. Some bosses gave employees off not only Thursday for Independence Day, but also Friday.

But plenty of people out there had to work yesterday. In addition to policemen, firemen, and hospital employees, Baldwin County’s garbage men were on the job July 4, traversing the county to make sure those rollout cans full of refuse weren’t left to pile up for another week. And then there were the folks manning stations at convenience stores, restaurants, theaters and retail stores. Most would have rather been at home, but with hard economic times, people have to work whether it’s a holiday or not.

So to all of you who have a long weekend off, when you do go out, remember that the person behind the counter would rather be home with their family. Give them a smile and a nice word. It will make both of you feel better.

William Moore is the Senior Editor at Gulf Coast Newspapers. He can be reached at wmoore@gulfcoastnewspapers.com