It was no accident that twice when I tried to call Max today, I instead got Jan's answering machine. "Hi this is Jan"......and then the familiar voice that followed. At first I was slightly annoyed, then frustrated, finally amused... and then a calm came over me knowing that he was joining us for the day!
Caleb was in full regalia at the parade, beaming and playing the crowds as usual. He was light dancing on light and was connecting with a memory of past that was built into him like a fine tuned machine. . As a tribe of pirates, Caleb and friends never officially signed into the parade roster in years past, or this year for that matter ... and Caleb always lamented the idea that they could never receive the big bang prize of "best in show" without being "legit" ....however the judges saw fit to hand over the golden trophy today to the man who would defy the odds. Thank you for that kindness!
My pleasure was in not only seeing Caleb march again, but also in meeting so many blogger friends who were so kind to show up and say hello and to lend their support...... and of my silent girlfriends who escorted me wherever I went.

At three I woke Kai from his slumbering dreams of days gone by to celebrate and toast the year gone by. It was around three that I stood in the kitchen, barefoot and exhilirated from a lovely day watching last year's parade....when Shaye called to let us know that the mighty pirate had gone down.... it was the call which would change my life forever.
It was the call that would change my life from now till eternity. That call is now a ringtone that has been branded into my cells!

As we left his friends and brothers on Fisher beach tonight after an exhibit of fireworks, compliments of PTowne, we stumbled like drunken ole friends down the quarter mile of dark beach to get to our truck..arm in arm ...my eyes weary from age and sadness..his vision diminished to one ...and I thought for a moment that I just might be jealous of all the young people we had left behind so full of promise with lives untouched by Father time. But as youth passes, and the blazing fireworks pass as well......we found we were were following the dim light of the skyline, stumbling- yes-but still with one another, hands locked in hope.......and I realized I would not trade this moment for anything!

Happy Fouth of July