Love letter to Bel Air Maryland on the Fourth of July

Dear Bel Air,

I have been remiss in not telling you how much I loved spending the Fourth of July with you when I lived within your borders from 1978 to 1987.  The Fourth of July was always my favorite day.  Every year was a little different.  This is a jumbled recitation of my memories.  I remember spending the night before in the woods catching frogs for the jumping contest.  Waking up early on the Fourth and riding my bike to the the corner of Singer road and old route 24 to meet the rest of the Hearthside Bicycle Club for the morning ride to Bel Air High School for the pancake breakfast.  I can close my eyes and taste those delicious pancakes and sausages right now.  There is nothing better than spending time with good friends eating great food! After breakfast it was off to the starting line up to prepare for riding in the parade.  We chatted about a few fun moves we would try.  Making jokes about being a precision cycling team.  Then we would ride in circles and figure eights and wave while we were riding.  We really were a precision team.  The parade was so much fun.  I have to admit I loved all the cheers! People would yell out my name and cheer as I rode by.  On the Fourth I felt like I was part of the community; part of Bel Air.  Then it was off to the races.  COBRA would always have a race on the 4th.  One year I surprised myself and actually won my race.  I remember spending the afternoon eating hamburgers and hotdogs from the grill.  Sweet Silver Queen corn.  Onward to the afternoon festivities! The frog jumping contest was a high point.  I hope those frogs had fun because it was usually pretty hot.  I loved watching the little kids have so much fun.  Attending more picnics and visiting friends. Listening to the Bel Air Town Band. Appreciating John Philip Sousa...Time for Fireworks!! Thousands of people would crowd into the grounds of the High School.  Usually I hated crowds, but on the Fourth of July it was glorious.  I saw so many faces of people I knew and loved while I roamed through the crowd.  Finding a space with friends to sit and then after it got dark the world's greatest firework display of all time!  That is how I remember it.

Thank You Bel Air Maryland.  I love you on the Fourth of July!

Evan

Waffle and Beach time

We went to Santa Monica today to eat a late lunch at Rae's Diner and go to the beach.  I had a waffle.  I love good waffles and the waffle I had at Rae's was fantastic.  Our friend Tony has been working there for 37 years.  That is a long time to have the same job.

After lunch we headed to the beach and I went for a swim.  I love the ocean.  Joon and Scout made videos on their phones.  Videos on their phones?   Sometimes I feel like I am living in a Dick Tracey comic strip.

I have made myself a nice cup of tea.  Darjeeling, with milk.

Happy Mother's Day!  Scout and I were successful on our clandestine collaboration.  We managed to communicate by text and plan a gift for Joon.  Scout downloaded a piece of her art onto a flash drive.  I retrieved it, printed it out and mounted it in a redwood picture frame I made.  I was sure that my lovely wife was on to us but fortunately she had no clue.  She was totally surprised and loved the gift.

The entire project was dependent on computers.  The fact that they have moved into our life so swiftly amazes me.  Scout painted the painting digitally.  We communicated by text messaging.  The artwork was transferred by a magical flash drive (a piece of technology that I do not understand).  The only technology I fully grasp is the woodworking equipment I used to make the frame.  The process represents how old and new world technology can blend together to create something wonderful.