7/4 made possible by 9/11.
July 5th, 2005 | by Scott Jennings |Regency Park was the setting for a picnic lunch and a perfectly acceptable Independence Day celebration. Here are photographs, with expository captions:
Callie and I pose for a photograph with Uncle Sam.
The model boat regatta. Thrilling, down to the wire racing action. I believe this took place concurrent with the local middle school Independence Day pageant which invoked 9/11 and sent me into an apoplectic fit.
Eric and Corey, moved by a local Cary band’s rendition of some Sousa march.
Lisa and I participate in an ice cream eating contest. Lisa was to keep her eyes closed and feed me while I kept my arms behind my back. My critical error was choosing a pint of eggnog ice cream, which I should have realized would be six or seven months old and the consistency of frozen fiberglass insulation — this hindered my “just mash it a little and pour it down my throat” strategy. I just really really like eggnog, I wish I could drink it all year.
Gin. Callie took the next four hands and I grew bored with the game. Uncle Sam returned shortly afterwards to tax the winnings.
A photograph of Ethan, by way of indicating he was present at the event.
The girls cool off in the Sierra Mist-sponsored “Scott’s Wet Dream” tent. This would also serve as foreshadowing.
We were starting to get stir-crazy. Katy copes.
Fireworks, finally. We left the ampitheatre for Callie’s staked-out prime viewing area, made ourselves comfortable on the tarp, and waited patiently for the skies to open and drench us. We had waited far too long to do the sensible thing and seek shelter, so we sang along with “God Bless America” as a unified display of force. We would not be intimidated. Suddenly, kablammo! The rain stopped shortly after the fireworks started, I snapped a few bad pictures, and we sat and enjoyed the warming glow of pyrotechnics. Once the fireworks ended, the rain resumed. Thanks a lot, God! For blessing America!
