The Day After

It was a beautiful and amazing fourth of July in which we ate watermelon, barbecued ribs, and homemade potato salad, rum cake, and peach cobbler, and sat in the sun and watched the kids play on the slip n' slide in our friend's yard-that-I-am-so-jealous-of. We came bearing Tim's Cascade Luau BBQ 'Crack' Chips - so called by our friends for their addictive properties. I think we've hooked at least six separate friends and three family members on these chips, and we're just starting on our mission.

We were surrounded by some great people, interesting conversations (Gerald: "I expect a woman to serve me my food, it's how I was raised" Tasha: "I didn't see you bring a woman, you'll have to get your own food!"), and even a guest appearance from Mr Ty Barnett, but alas I still have no camera with which to take my own pictures. Can you appreciate my ingenuity though, can you?

But in the spirit of gratitude, let me share with you the picture I WOULD have taken and showed you tonight. I am sure it would have been perfect, and would have said everything. So close your eyes (not while you're reading!), and imagine if you will... one small five year old boy with porcupine hair sticking all over the place because he is badly in need of a haircut. Imagine this boy SO excited to see the fireworks, then realizing a front row seat at the City of Tukwila's annual fireworks blow-out may have been more than he bargained for. So the boy, with all the wide-eyed wonder that boys have, watches carefully beside the leg of the very tall man, then slowly wraps his arms around the leg of the very tall man, then slowly slides behind the leg of the very tall man... only to peer carefully out at the fireworks in total "safety". I SO wish I'd had my camera!

I'm grateful for friends (ESPECIALLY the kind that will do your hair at 7:30am), a pin-striped suit for a job interview, Starbucks' Blueberry White Iced Tea, the beautiful weather, and a man who tries. And as always, a healthy family.

Cheers!