Actually, we were pretty lucky this past weekend because we were invited to dinner on Saturday and an outdoor party yesterday. But there were some things that didn't fit right because both of these days were centered on eating. There should have been more. But, that might be just a personal thing despite having someone else do the cooking and my NOT being asked to clean up afterwards which I automatically do.
What I missed most was not the athletic events that a great many missed although there were televisions available in both places until someone turned them off. Instead of centering on family and togetherness there was a certain awkwardness of a lot of people who did not really know each other who passed them by and you chose to sit near someone most near and dear to you.
There were no parades. At least, I was not aware of any being held near by. Going out to stand in the sun or rain as it often does in the afternoon in this part of the world, is not something I would choose to do anymore. There are no grandchildren near although on Sunday there were two belonging to someone else who changed into swim suits and were in the pool while almost without exception of the cook and helpers, the rest were in air conditioning watching approaching dark clouds. The one, really cool difference was when someone said they saw a rainbow.
That rainbow turned out to be a colorful display in a limited spot at the top of the dark cloud that excited those of us with cameras and I was lucky enough to be able to snap the colors that were sort of like northern lights as they passed overhead to, perhaps drop down some rain; but we had chosen to pack up and leave by then.
There was no group singing around a piano. People brought in portable C.D. players instead. I missed the group singing but I am quite sure that the golden oldies and the good old FOLKSONGS would not have been understood by most of the crowd who turned up in a truly beautiful spot where our air-conditioned room and nearby swimming pool jutted out into the inter-coastal where there was very little traffic on this day.
Saturday was different. We spent a Haitian evening with a dear friend and her family and friends and there was no singing or parading there too. That was too bad for the Glorious 4th should have speeches and lots of activity and music, too.