My wife Susan and I made the trip to RP from Groton, CT for the festivities-- a 2.5 hour drive, so we didn't even try to make the baby parade this year. We picked up my niece and her two older girls, ages 5-years-and-a-half and 3-years-and-364-days (I made them patriotic T-shirts with their pictures on them; Grace's read: "Born On The Fifth Of July").
The parade was outstanding, as usual; it seemed to me there was a little less candy-throwing, which suits me (didn't do that in
my day: harrumph!).
The ambulance and fire engine sirens were allowed to sound, though perhaps a bit less than in years past: still one of my favorite parts. When I tell folks up here in CT how the parade lasts a good hour and a half, they are amazed.
Fireworks rained out again, for the second year in a row, and we couldn't hang around for the rain date. I was disappointed, because my niece was always saying how
their fireworks were pathetic, and I wanted to impress her with how great RP's is.
Darline Sauter (nee Beddow) and her husband Jim had a gathering at their place afterwards; more of a block party in the courtyard of their condo, with all the neighbors dropping in. Ed Newmark and his family were there, and Mike Zaccherio stopped by.
Update: Lou Knaub was there, too, of course. How could I forget him? I enjoyed talking to him.
