Don't get me wrong. I'm just as bitter and angry as any progressive Democrat. The killing, the rip-offs, global warming, peak oil, growing wealth disparity and disappearing jobs, the moralistic posing, the screaming hypocrisy and sheer dumbheadedness. But you know what? I had a GREAT 4th of July.
Went to the parade down in a nearby village, a little place on the edge of nowhere, not on the way from anywhere to anywhere else. Actually, I was in the parade, walking a 10-foot-high heart-shaped helium balloon that says Coastal Health Alliance on one side and Heartfelt Care in West Marin on the other.
When we turned the corner from the parade staging area onto the main street, there was a terrific girl band playing on the second story deck over the front porch of the saloon. Perfect sound. Local girls they are, to die for, worth living for. In this parade, there's no real boundary between the crowd and the show. The watching people just spill onto the street, hugging the parade people, passing out beer and food.
I was walking with people from the local volunteer fire department, because we're in the middle of a project to build a new fire station and a new health clinic, side by side on the same lot. Hey, we're progressives, right? We believe in things like universal health care and neighbors taking care of neighbors. Well if universal health care is good, wouldn't it be good to have a health clinic in our own little town? If caring about our neighbors is good, shouldn't the volunteer firefighters be able fit their engines into the firestation?
After our group finished (small town, small parade) I tied off the balloon and headed back to see the other entries. A group marched by with three different wheeled contraptions, all made out of junk and thrown-away stuff: a gas stove on wheels, a brick oven on wheels, and a sleeping yurt on wheels. Long story behind this, but to make it short this is the creation of a former art student of my long-time companion. I go out into the street and say to the creator "Miss ** sends her greetings". He was instantly all interest and attention--how can he reach her? She's retired now, but back in the day she was so excellent, so influential, so loved as a teacher! But she prefers to keep a low profile these days, so sorry, her address and phone are not public information, but I will relay a message. Well, he just wants her to know what he's doing now. I say, don't worry, she knows... she knows. He glowed. Afterwards he parked the rigs and started cooking. I had pizza from the brick oven on wheels--excellent!
Best part of the parade is the last entry--samba musicians and dancers. No way to describe the magic of the sound when they are live, walking, drumming, playing. But I can describe the dancers--young, female, and very scantily clad. Glorious in their bodies and the rhythm. Free to be. I sort of remember those times...
Part of the firehouse and clinic project is fundraising. Ugh! Who wants to do that? But it`s gotta happen if you're gonna put bricks and mortar together. There's this couple in town who could be major donors. The problem is how to get next to them and make the pitch? By pure coincidence, my son, who lives in the city, is invited to their place for a barbecue picnic for members of a progressive action organization (of which he is not a member, but his friend is). I need to pick up some things he has borrowed from me, so on my way out of town I stop by the picnic. The host sees me walking by, hails me over to his group, wants to do introductions. Host and hostess are wonderful people, very plain and natural. They want to know my story--that I serve on the board of the local non-profit clinic, that I was in the parade for the firehouse & clinic project. How's that going anyway? Well, we have enough funds to start construction, but we still have a ways to go. I leave it there... no reason to push it. But I am hopeful!
I get home--there's a phone message from an old friend, known him for over thirty years. Sad and lonely, but trying to sound brave. I call him, ask him over, soon we're having our own barbecue on my back deck. Watching the sunset march up the mountain. Cocktails and conversation, and a deep relationship renewed. Steak and potatoes on the grill, veggies on the stove-- fabulous!
Finished up with a few games of pool down at the local. Jane, Joel, Matt, Mike, Pat, Tony, bunch of people. God I love this time in this country! This is the real America. This is the America the Republicans talk about, but we live in.