As of this writing, the clouds have cleared, the street parking is filled and it appears the fireworks display is on. A big thanks to Nature for clearing the skies after this afternoon’s bit of sogginess.
We’re home, watching the crowds amble down the street towards Gas Works at the moment, but earlier this afternoon, we paid a visit to the park to see join in the festivities. We spotted the showers coming in from across Lake Union and got confirmation via text message from downtown that rain was on the way. Always the sports, we stuck it out for a good hour before making our sodden way back down the Burke to home.
All in attendance seemed in good spirits about it, though. The Fuerte Fitness sumo booth was bustling busy until the rains came and most of the activities, including the giant slide, bouncy house, rock climbing wall, and jumpy suspended thing stayed open throughout. The Wallingford Chamber of Commerce did not, after all, get the rocking chair races going, but they did have a plastic tater tot toss, a raffle and good cheer.
As is only fitting for an Independence Day Celebration, we caught a bit of a political debate. A gentleman from the Tacoma Coffee Party (a response to the Tea Bagger movement) was out leafletting in favor of just taxation. This one took us by surprise at first, as virtually all the sign-holding leafletters we’ve seen to date have been of the “a good government is no government”, “all taxes are bad taxes”-type.
Instead, this one had a tract from Thomas Paine [web site not working as of this writing, unfortunately], that, after noting that it is virtually impossible for a man to become rich except by virtue of participation in a society with a government and that most people would fail to save for themselves for old age, suggests “Make, then, society the treasurer to guard it for him in a common fund; for it is no reason that, because he might not make a good use of it ofr himself, another should take it.” Social Security, c. 1795.
Unfortunately, the sanity of the man’s argument were undermined by the spitting vitriol with which he declared them when faced with a (gasp) GOP supporter in the crowd. It’s a shame. Reasoned debate on important issues is what made this country what it was, more so than the “bombs bursting in air” that the traditional fireworks display recalls.
Great fireworks display this year, as always. But the KIRO simulcast was gawdawful – they had commentators talking over the music for some unknowable reason. It was beyond distracting, and was extremely annoying.
Please KIRO commentators – next year, talk before or after, but not during. We don’t need to know that the Saturn bursts were multicolored BECAUSE WE ARE LOOKING AT THEM TOO.
nprfool: Agree 20000000%