Yesterday was our neighborhood’s annual Fourth
of July party. We don't always hold our big party on the
actual fourth, but this year since the fourth was on a Saturday, that was the
day we picked. I heard someone say
yesterday that this was the 49th year that our neighborhood of
Walker Pond here in Sturbridge has been celebrating the Fourth of July together. I’m sure someone could verify that for me, but
it sounds about right to me.
As usual, the day starts off with a Fishing Derby. Greg used to chair that event but has turned
it over to someone with more interest in fishing. The Derby starts at 7am so I think that Greg’s
interest in sleeping in a bit had something to do with it, too. The Derby is followed by a road race at 8am. That’s an event that neither Greg nor I have
ever been witness to. But the Parade is
at 10 am and I don’t think we’ve missed it but once or twice it in the 28 years we’ve
lived here. Here are a couple of pics
from this year’s parade.
Winner of Best in Show were this pack of
Patriots:
We don’t have a Best Dressed Dog category, but
if we did, this handsome pooch would have gotten my vote:
Olive, the pug, watched the parade closely from
the comfort of our golf cart and was pretty excited about that good-looking
bulldog, too, but she didn’t get to attend the party, poor girl. She just gets too excited among all those
people and smells. And while it’s a dogs
dream, people would give her far too many bites of their hot dogs than would be
good for her, so she had to go home after the parade.
The day continued on with field games one of
which is an egg toss. We had a lot of participants.
This year a new event was added. The Wellie
Wanging involves standing on a half barrel and tossing a Wellington Boot as far
as possible while maintaining your stance on the barrel. Not as easy as it sounds as it turns out.
Here’s a neighbor in mid-wang (?). We were told that this Wellie Wanging is a
tradition across the Pond, but I’m not completely sure I believe it. Verification needed!
It rained on us for a while so everyone got cozy
under the tents and had a few drinks and eats.
But it turned out to be a beautiful evening and every one, including Uncle Sam, enjoyed
the day.
