A Paul Brent Painting

Our day on this Glorious Fourth will involve three – count ’em THREE – picnics, none of them including fireworks. We are totally content with that and are already cautioning one another to “pace yourself!” We’ve picnicked and partied at all three venues in the past and we know from experience that eating ‘only a little bit’ is probably not an option. The food will be to die for.

But… there will be other diversions, as well. First and foremost – talking with friends and visiting friends of friends who we don’t see on a regular basis. For me, that the best part of any party anytime anywhere. And there will be hay rides and croquet and bocce and volleyball – even ‘sack games’ which I think for us old ducks will be a spectator sport. Plenty of distractions to keep us from those second helpings! (Or so I hope.)

Double J and The Boys, 2014 Ocean Park Parade

At our Friday Night Gathering last evening, plans for today ran the gamut – parade participants and spectators, picnic hosts and attendees, and one friend who traditionally stays at home (inside) with his pets all day on the Fourth after a very early morning walk on the beach. He probably will see and hear far more of the fireworks, even so, living only a block from the ocean dunes as he does.

Even though Oysterville is bursting at the seams people-wise, we haven’t heard or seen much fireworks activity yet, contrary to reports from other Peninsula places. Safe, sane, quiet is fine with me. Let’s hear it for a Fourth of food, fellowship and fun-minus-fireworks!