Well, Happy Birthday, USA. You’re looking pretty good for a 236-year-old.
I started my Independence Day too darn early. Woke up around 4:45 a.m. Pretty soon, it was light enough to do things like harvest mesquite beans and turn the compost. Such is the life of a micro-scale urban farmer.
After breakfast, I rolled the bike out the door and went in search of July 4th fun and merriment. And I found it.
The source of my joy was the 49th annual Palo Verde Neighborhood Parade. I’ve blogged about this event before, so feel free to take a click-trip back to 2008 to get caught up on Martha’s relationship with this event.
Anyway, this year’s grand marshal was none other than Tucson’s mayor, Jonathan Rothschild, who’s shown here with one of his youngest constituents…
Also up front was the Air Force Junior ROTC honor guard from nearby Catalina High School…
Since this is one of the oldest continuous neighborhood events in Tucson, it attracts the media. And that means interviews…
Okay, time to get marching. This parade attracts everyone from kids being towed in wagons…
…to the Northway Avenue Grand Kazoo Band…
After the parade ends, it’s time for awards and cake…
And now for something completely different, it’s the debut appearance of a guest photographer on this blog. First time in 316 blog posts.
But for Jim Hannley, I’ll make an exception. He’s taking a picture of me with one of my mentors in the photographic, design, writing, editing, and publishing realms. That would be Pamela Powers Hannley, who’s on the left…
Turnabout is fair play, Jim. Here he is with his grandson, William, Mayor Rothschild, and a lady who’s been marching in the Palo Verde Neighborhood Parade since childhood…
Oh, yes, my bike also got decked out for the Fourth…
