I’m feeling a bit nostalgic. What of it?
We live in the Central Valley, and it’s the 4th of July, and I’m wanting a bit of small-town Americana in all its Norman-Rockwell glory. I want main streets and parades, backyard barbecues and bang-em-up fireworks.

I hear my hometown’s big show has been canceled this year, because nothing lasts forever, and that can wear down on a person.

It’s been years since I laid on a blanket in the outfield grass down at the high school, watching the fireworks boom-boom overhead.

And the crowd goes: “ooh, ahh.”

I always thought that was put on, even when I was young.

There were other things, too. Like high school sleepovers, late-night pool floating, watermelon, homemade ice cream and barbecue — bad, cooked-in-the-dark, hope-it’s-done barbecue.

And the heat and sweat.

There used to be sparklers, remember? Real ones, you could write your name in the air with. Not the crap they package now. And always, always, some dumb friend (sometimes it was me) jumping through a fountain of sparks, laughing all the way. Sorry, TNT, you can’t always be safe and sane. You just can’t.
But that’s the thing about nostalgia — it means things have changed.

There’s not always a gathering to be had anymore and a few years ago, I spent the Fourth driving down the 180 freeway at dusk, the sky full of lights from all angles. Not the most exciting time ever, but brilliantly pretty. These days, us carnivores get a separate, smaller barbecue — the big Weber is full of tofu and mushrooms and veggies. And there’s more beer than in high school, oddly enough.

My buddy Rob DeFrees, who loves the holiday, sent out a Happy 4th of July e-card and everything, says it’s a celebration of American life and values.

“It is a time to be proud of being an American. Having lived in Europe, that point was driven home during the years across the pond. Mates in London and Paris would always host a 4th of July gathering and we would do it up right proper. Invite any we knew to be American to come and hang out with. I remember with pride attending an embassy gala in Italy on the 4th of July, and thinking how special Americans were.”

Not to get all nationalistic on you, but it’s good to remember the 4th of July as a free day off work, or an excuse to drink or enjoy a ball game, or just play with fire. Because that’s part of who we are, right?

Still, it’s a safe bet if you bring fireworks, someone is going to get a bit too close.

Here are a few things that make me think of the Fourth:

* “The Spirit of ’76,” starring David Cassidy and Mark Mothersbaugh from Devo. Time travelers trying to go back to 1776, end up in 1976. It’s way funnier than Mel Gibson’s “The Patriot.”

* “Centerfield,” by John Fogerty. It’s about baseball. How American is that?

* Homemade ice cream. If you don’t have a machine, you can make it in a Ziploc bag. Here’s how: http://chemistry.about.com/cs/howtos/a/aa020404a.htm