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A fairytale for the 4th

The following fairytale is true, although it happened just recently in what many consider to be a magic kingdom, of sorts, called the Valley of the Moon. We recount it here with apologies to the real family it involves for any license we may take with the exact conversation we only heard second-hand. The words reported may not be precisely accurate but the spirit, and the gist, of them, is very close to what actually occurred.

There was, as it happened, a young(ish) mother with a very young prince, about two, who with her husband had a tradition of spending the July 4 weekend in the mountains at a place called Tahoe.

But this year, in honor of the very young prince, the mother said to the husband, "Dear," or some similarly affectionate term, "I think we should stay here on the fourth so that our very young son can view his very first Independence Day fireworks show in the village that is our home."

Ever eager to please his bride, the husband agreed to forego the long-standing tradition in order that his son might watch the sky explode at home.

But then the mother learned that the brave people who produce the fireworks show were woefully short of revenues with which to pay for it.

"Dear," the mother once more addressed her husband, "it appears that the firefighters may not be able to produce the very best fireworks show for our very young son to watch, for they are short of cash."

To which the husband replied, "Just how much cash do they need?"

The wife told him, the husband gulped, and then wrote the firefighters a big fat check.

And so it came to pass that the firefighters received the $10,000 they needed, and on Monday, with the rest of Sonoma, Sarah and Darius Anderson - and their very young son Tyge - will enjoy the spectacular fireworks show produced by the Sonoma Valley Fire and Rescue Authority.

And while we all relish the pyrotechnics Monday night, the people who produce the equally spectacular parade and Plaza party during the day - the folks at the Sonoma Community Center - want us all to remember these few important rules:

Please don't throw water balloons or spray water on floats, except in the designated Wet Zone at the end of the parade route on the corner of First Street West and West Spain. But all manner of water madness is welcome in the Wet Zone.

• Be safe, stay on the sidewalks and don't enter the parade route.

• hildren under 14 have to be supervised by an adult.

• If you're in the parade, please don't throw any items - like candy - into the crowd; old people and really young people can be hurt. Hand them out instead.

• Don't litter. Let's leave the Plaza as pretty as we found it.

•Political entries are allowed in the parade, but be nice with the messages. Saying the other party "sucks" is not OK. And try to keep your entries G-rated and suitable for viewing by all ages. Racial or sexual slurs obviously aren't appropriate.

•We know you'll tipple during the party, but please don't drink or carry alcohol during the parade.

And, finally, have a wonderful fourth of July.