Hurricanes build community. Ripped roofs and downed power lines get people out of the house and talking to each other.
There are also less stressful ways to do this. We're visiting a small town in coastal California this week.
There was the Third's ice cream social followed by the Fourth's early morning run. After that there was the horse-shoe competition, a pet show, egg toss, tug-o-war, and seeing who could eat watermelon the fastest. We walked down to the beach and entered the sandcastle building contest.
The judges failed to see the brilliance of our six-inch edifice protected by a 40-foot pentagonal moat. We explained, "Our castle is the safest. It could never be hit by cannonball".
The parade here, ten minutes of decorated kids, is always a hit. It's pedestrian-powered and there are no politicians waving from convertibles.
What did you do on the Fourth? I liked being in a place where everyone pitched in to have a day-long party.
People love community. They want to live in a place where they feel safe, nurtured by friends and family. Public events, be they parades, art shows, or barbecue cook-offs, help make this happen.
Happy Seventh of July,
GT
Sam and Sarah leading the parade in La Selva Beach, California
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