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Nose for News by Sarah Stultz

The Fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays in Albert Lea, but as the day approaches, I have to admit it is a trigger as I think about the day my daughter, Sophie, died on July 2, 2016.

Today it will have been nine years since she died, and I just cannot believe that much time has already passed since we last saw her.

That year, July 2 was on a Saturday, with the annual Third of July Parade scheduled for Sunday and the fireworks on Monday on the Fourth. It was the only year I remember not attending the parade, and I just remember it was a weird feeling knowing all of the festivities and fun memories that were happening just blocks away from us as we grappled with our new reality at home.

You see, we’ve always been around people who have loved the holiday here in Albert Lea, and it has rubbed off to us, too.

I have fond memories of going over to the house of two friends from our church who lived on lake-front property on East Park Avenue. The wife would have the place decked out with food and treats galore, and there would be all kinds of people, both young and old, mainly from the church, who would come to enjoy each other’s company, watch the fireworks and get eaten alive by mosquitoes. It was something we did, year after year, and that I think about with fondness. Shortly after Sophie died, those friends moved away, and one has since passed on.

While our Fourth of July holiday does not look the same as it used to, I’ve made it a priority to still attend the parade and other festivities, as I know Sophie would have enjoyed them, and it’s something our family still likes to take part in.

I wrote last week about my son’s love of parades, and the Albert Lea Third of July Parade is a real treat for us all to attend.

Last year, we made a new memory as we watched the fireworks from Main Street near Hanson Tire, which had been closed because of flooding.

While I’m still determining where we’re going to sit for both the parade (we need to get our chairs out!) and the fireworks, I’m looking forward to attending both and making new memories.

My husband’s side of the family moved to Albert Lea after Sophie died, so a lot of years our traditions now also include a barbecue with them and, of course, the car show downtown for my husband and father-in-law.

While the Fourth of July is different from what it used to be when Sophie was still here, I can’t help but think about the big smile that would be on her face at this time of year.

I have no doubt she is still smiling as she watches her little brother dancing along the side of the street as the marching bands pass in the parade this week.

Sarah Stultz is the managing editor of the Tribune. Her column appears every Wednesday.