Photoessay #740 - Fourth of July observed

Today July 3rd, most of the community is on holiday as most employees have the day off. With pay. Except me. I won't go into that.

Our plans are pretty modest. We'll have out party in our neighborhood but it's likely to be pretty small. Ilana and I will go to Costco in a moment to get some watermelon and berries.

Today's picture shows me all ready to participate in a parade, maybe for July 4th. My guess on the year? 1960 maybe? It doesn't look my 'big bike' that I received in the fifth grade. The kids could ride in the parade on decorated bikes. I used many colors of crepe paper for the handlebars and through the spokes. I'm guessing that I made paper flowers out of kleenex tissues which went on the hat and the bicycle. I certainly am wearing some kind of old fashioned dress that I don't remember. Along with the straw hat with the elaborate tie. Maybe, there was some sort of heritage or old-fashioned theme to the parade which ran through the main street of our neighborhood.

This was not an old-fashioned neighborhood. The Arden Park subdivision in the 'north area' of Sacramento was laid out and developed in the late 40s. We moved there in 1953. Our house was one of the older houses but the whole place was intact at that time. A short drive to the city (past the hops fields over the American River). Curiving streets with spanish names and large lots. Designed for the post war families. Specifically those male engineers with their stay at home wives and their kids. My parent embraced this whole-heartedly. Diversity not encouraged. I wouldn't be surprised to find covenants in the deeds. My parents strove to blend in with the other families. Assimilate! Even kids with divorced parents were shunned.

You grow up and it's what you know. Not a bad thing but not too much texture.

Off to ride in the Bike Parade!