The Spirit of the 4th

Yesterday's block party was a real return to the original values and ways of the American people.  "Howzat?" you say?  This particular block is centered be a "parkette" meaning about one-half of a house lot wide, running from the sidewalk to the back fence of the house behind it.  Money has been put into it; the slide and swings are smoothly painted and solidly constructed.  Any areas where a kid could fall have been covered in rubber chunks to pad their little behinds.

For last year's event, guests were invited to bring a potluck dish while the neighborhood men took turns working the barbecue grill.  This year we didn't have to bring anything; there was a tent which represented the "taco cart" we'd been told to expect.  The chef and a helper were cranking 'em out - chicken, beef or pork (very good) tacos with beans, rice and trimmings on the side.  There was no set fee; we were told to put our money in a sealed up cardboard box with a slit cut in the top.  The suggested price was $10 per person. 

There was a really big bouncy house set up in the street in front of the park.  Little kids ran around, shrieking and screaming; clutching quesadillas in rather grubby hands.  There were a number of babies.  One was so funny that I just kept watching her and grinning.  She was the first baby I've ever seen with skinny legs!  Visualize a baby and you will probably see a plump morsel, lying on its back waving dimpled legs and fat thighs.  She had a stiff-legged gait - sort of a lurch into a near fall; recovery - repeat. 

The whole block appears to be populated by 30-somethings and their toddlers.  The adults gathered in their beach chairs in a wide ring around the only tree there and amiably chatted; other groups gathered around the picnic tables in the roaring sun.  Everyone seemed to have at least a nodding acquaintance with their neighbors.  We had to explain ourselves thusly, "Angie and John used to be our next door neighbors and the friendship has continued" got us quite off of the hook. 

I tried to get a bocce (lawn bowling) tournament going, but everyone was much too content to make the effort to get up out of their beach chair and go out into the hot sun.  So I sat back and had another beer. 

It was readily apparent that there were committees - catering, decorating (bunting all over the fences,)  placement organization (coolers under extra tables, a dessert table) and music from speakers mounted along a fence.  The music guy even made a DJ tape especially for this event! 

All in all, the feeling I walked away with was:  community.  And it was an endearing sight, I promise you.