Happy Birthday, America!

The Fourth of July has always meant get togethers, parades, socials, fireworks, and lots of fun. Growing up in Taylor, Carolyn just can't get into the spirit without waking up at 5:30 from the sound of black powder blowing an anvil 6 feet high in the sky. Living in Carmichael, it is a little risky trying to do something like that. But she still was up at 6:30 and out in the yard getting ready for the day's events. Although she worked pretty hard over the weekend and yesterday evening, there is always something more to do.


When Ed arrived with the boys, the four of us hiked the 1/3 mile over to Fair Oaks to watch the Carmichael Fourth of July Parade. We've learned over the years to take along our own chairs and our own shade. Then it's just a matter of staking a claim to 8 or 10 feet of curb space or even space just behind the first row sitting on the curb.

The boys were in good humor for about the first 15 minutes of the parade which was the usual eclectic collection of old cars, beauty queens, and fire trucks. Oh, also the local belly dancing instructor, tae kwon do studio, and 2 or 3 local scout troops. Jake and Tim wanted to get some of the candy that was thrown but were too shy to run out into the street with the other kids.

Fifteen minutes into the parade, Tim wanted to come home and started whining about it. Thirty minutes later, when Jake joined in, we called it quits, packed up our chairs and umbrella and hiked back to our house.

There, the first annual Max Court Block Party was just beginning to rock. We ended up with about 25 people and about half of the households on the block were represented. Friends and family members of the block owners rounded out the party.

It will take a couple of years for a tradition like this to take hold. It's amazing how shy even adults can be about such things.

We did learn that between the Holterman's and us, we can equip a pretty good party. We could maybe have used more shade but we had plenty of chairs, barbecues, and tables.

Even after the block party ended with neighbors returning to their houses on the block, friends and relative lingered to visit with the kids in the sandbox...

... and the adults playing a hot game of Phase 10.

Of course the day wouldn't be complete with fireworks. This year the Trukas treated us to a show in our very own cul de sac.