233 years later...

Yesterday we celebrated the 4th as best we could. I always try to pick out some positive points to contemplate each Independence Day, stop short of dwelling on the bad, and forget it all to enjoy food and fireworks.

We went to a picnic with Alan's siblings & co. and had a nice time-- in the morning we marched in the Steilacoom parade (it is a lovely old pioneer-type town that overlooks the Sound), Lucy and her cousin Sophia waving to the onlookers. Then we hung out at the hostess' house, eating tasty food and watching the kids run around. In an effort to be environmentally conscience everyone brought their own reusable plates and cups, nothing disposable (which was great, though I could have lived without hearing the words "green" and "footprint" a dozen times as it is a sad reminder of most people's ecotrendiness).

When we got back to Tacoma the three of us spent some time at Grandma's and I stayed up with her to see the fireworks in New York on TV. After Lucy was in bed Alan and I sat out to watch the fireworks over the tops of the trees. Despite a hefty fine granted those in Tacoma proper that set off firworks we saw hundreds of them go up (with the sounds of police sirens heading in the direction of the bigger displays). Just a little f-you to the law I suppose, which I have to admire when it is done in good fun and happens on the 4th of July.