The Fourth of July started off nicely with a lovely little American flag placed perfectly at our curb (thank you, flag placers) and set the tone for a good day marked by great food, parades and good conversation.
British friends made the party with their usual commentary about the "silly little colonial escapade" that ended with the birth of this country, enduring our rallying cries of "Up the Rebels" and even putting up with chilled, American beer. Their children, sadly, have also given in to America -- losing those delightful English school accents and talking like MTV has taught them.
Visitors from Alamo and Danville who went to the Orinda parade said they enjoyed the home town feel of that parade and the warm welcome of the Orinda Association and Orinda neighborhoods. and Joan Buchanan turned up at the Orinda Parade and were welcomed, and folks in Moraga are still talking about the dog parade and a remarkable Great Dane named Thor -- something of a local fixture -- who decided he'd had enough in mid-parade and decided to take a little breather, bringing his handler to heel and prompting laughter from onlookers and his many admirers.
The kids -- our barometers for local fun and temperatures -- had a good time but came back from the Moraga fireworks display nearly hypothermic as the winds picked up and cooled off the valley late in the day and into Wednesday evening.
Comments and site visitation dropped off in the latter part of the day, as expected, as folks left Patch to spend time with their families. But then the diodes and crystals and gears started to glow and hum and whir again and we were back in the news cycle, with people asking good questions about local goings on.
So far this morning, people are asking about some pretty in Orinda and Lafayette as well as work underway at the site of the old Mountain Mikes-Hungry Hunter at Mt. Diablo Blvd. and Pleasant Hill Road in Lafayette. Readers contacting Patch expressed sadness over the loss of at least one of a stand of giant redwood trees at the site.Condos are planned.
And, lastly, congrats to Lafayette resident and Patcher Jennifer DuBorg for toggling that -- and now well beyond. Jennifer (and her family) get a platter of cookies from Les Trois Bisous of Moraga -- and our thanks.
Now we're on to 1,000 "Likes," where we will award another platter of cookies to another Patcher who gives us the upraised thumb. Thanks for all those who have helped to get us where we are. Excelsior.
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