There's a whole mess of Emmy news this morning, concerning how Lost came up relatively empty, but given that the nominee list is yooge, there's no way I want to spend the time recapping and predicting. I think it's safe to say that Gray's Anatomy will walk away with a few awards though.
That's all beside the point, as what I really wanted to go on about today is the Fourth of July holiday we all celebrate in these here United States as our Independence Day. If you're in the country during the first week of July, you'll be accosted by red, white, and blue in all forms. Perhaps you'll even be struck in the face by a random flag here and there and no doubt there will be many different iterations of Uncle Sam hanging about. Nowhere else is this more prevalent than in Huntington Beach.
Having grown up there, been educated there, and called it my home, HB is exactly the type of staunch beach city with its own storied Fourth of July traditions. Riots notwithstanding, the parade and celebration is over 100 years old, basically as old as the High School it crosses in front of every year. While minor celebrities will always be a part of the parade, there are other aspects of it you can always expect: Shriners, Boy Scouts, and even the requisite marching band. Participating in the parade can be fun, but I think I'm happier now to be an outsider than I was previously.
What's so significant about the city's celebration is how much of it really is a Big Deal. According to Grace "it's like a religion." Really, it is. Bunting and flags abound on this weekend, almost a holy weekend for some, and forbid the fact that anyone not celebrate, because that would be relatively unamerican. Although I really do enjoy several aspects of the celebration, it can be a bit much.
Consider the fact that the local streets are clogged, firework displays right in the middle of the street threaten your own car, and there's no shortage of inebriated public humiliations. Knowing many of the local streets, we were able to escape the traffic in minutes, but I can imagine all those poor suckers stuck for an hour trying to travel two city blocks. It's probably even more harrowing when you have crazed pyromaniacs attempting to set off the random screamer inches from bumper and fender.
Regardless, it was a nice day for us at the beach with family, and with friends. Fireworks were a good show and even with a little drama afterwards, everything worked out. Just another day under the sun...
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