SEASONALLY SPEAKING in Postcards 4

We all know the history of our Independence Day, but many of us forget that it wasn’t official until 1941. Inspired by Thomas Paine’s pamphlet “Common Sense,” our Continental Congress voted for independence from England in 1776.

Although we celebrated the date from 1776, the war of 1812 inspired renewed enthusiasm for the holiday. Now days the celebration has become less patriotic. Here in San Diego there are celebrations all over the city with legal fireworks everywhere, and illegal ones bursting out in strange places. Surrounding us we have Sea World, Ocean Beach out on the pier, and La Jolla. If you drive to the top of the Point, you can also watch the fireworks off five barges on San Diego Bay plus the best ones in Coronado Island. Boom indeed.

In OB, families party on the beach. Folks show up at six am to save favorite spots to watch the fireworks. I got that job more than once. There used to be marshmallow wars. The sidewalks and sands were clogged with the sugary treats. Little cities bloom in the sand too. Flags big and small wave in the breeze. Tents grow…giant ones. Ropes mark off territories.
At the surf line folks still throw Frisbee’s. And as the day fades away, hundreds of folk head for the water carrying their surfboards. Their aim, to sit under the fireworks at the end of the pier.

This year, G has to go to work early the next day. The holiday was fun when we lived right there and could walk to the beach. Then we would come home and sit on the front steps to watch the tourists all leave, at once, toward the freeway. Now we have to drive too…like thousands of others. Traffic is beyond fierce, and tho we know all the secret byways, traffic in OB on the 4th is still a nightmare.

Did I mention the fog?
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• Himself: Working from 6 again. He was a horrible grump yesterday. Got the BBQ out of storage from an exceptionally rude caretaker. I think he’s going to quit this job.


• Me, me: Working in the back room. The food is going to be fun, but I am not scrubbing the BBQ ever again. Tomorrow morning is the Celebration of Life for Claudia at 9. In the afternoon, at 3, is Robin and Glen’s wedding….in fog at Mission Bay. I got one of my sketches framed for them. I was going to wear my good mumu, now with tights and shirt under it.


• Reading: The last Hillerman by Hillerman.


• Gratitude’s: Slept well, got a sketch framed for a wedding present, walked twice this week and had a chance to talk with much appreciated friends at the pool.