The sun was out ALL DAY on the 4th of July! It was a tremendously beautiful, sunny, not too hot, summer day with just a very comfortable touch of a breeze off the water. My mom and dad had slept at our place after seeing the fireworks on the night before and, just as I expected, they were up and dressed long before Edie and I opened our eyes. Nobody wanted to fuss with breakfast, so everyone settled for toast with butter and jelly and, of course, coffee and tea.

We made our way to "our" spot on the parade route once my brother arrived, which was around 10:00 AM. Although the parade steps off at 10:30, it never reaches "our" spot before 11:00 and, sometimes, not until 11:30. The family we have sat alongside of for the last bunch of years was there again, so going to the parade has almost gotten to be a bit of a reunion for us, too. Shortly after getting my father (he was in his wheelchair) comfortably placed under a tree and my mother's chair in place next to him, Edie, my brother, and I got ourselves settled around them. Then our friend, Kath, joined us, so we had a nice little group.



The parade was a little bit shorter than it has been in the past. Due to the economy, a number of high school bands were forced to decline the invitation this year because they could not afford the trip out here. And, too, some of the bands and others who are paid to be in the parade could not be invited this year because the 4th of July committee could not afford to pay them. However, the parade was still excellent. The floats were beautiful, the bands were exciting, the antique cars and fire trucks were neat, the militias were noisy, the clowns were colorful, and the onlookers were not disappointed.

Here are a few of my favorite parade pictures ...


Boston Red Sox mascot, Walley


The Coast Guard from Bristol's station


Kentish Guards, RI Militia


Clydesdales


A World War II themed float

The parade took two hours to pass by and it was enjoyable throughout. However, by the time it was over and we made our way back to the apartment, it was mid-afternoon and we were starving. We let my brother help my parents get comfortably seated on the porch and to set up some extra chairs and some trays there while Edie and I prepared a lunch of hot dogs, burgers, chips, and pasta salad. We had watermelon, cantaloupe, cherries, brownies, and cookies for dessert. Everyone came in to help themselves to the food, but we all ate out on the porch so that we could continue to enjoy being outdoors in the beautiful weather.


(This is me and my mom in the kitchen)

The remainder of the afternoon was spent out on the porch where we all chatted and watched passersby. Our company left around 5:00 and, after cleaning and straightening up a bit, Edie and I simply relaxed the rest of the day away.