Often the words...Dorothy, you're not in Kansas anymore...Lou Ann, you're not
in Indiana anymore...went through my head as the day begin and progressed.
My first Fourth of July celebration on an island surrounded by water and sand.
The morning started with the sand sculpture contest at the beach. There were
three of us on our team..Philip, myself, and Jim, an old friend of Philip's
and a new friend of mine. He is a potter from Manteo and stayed with us this
past week end.
We had decided to enter the contest a day or two earlier. We kept coming up
with suggestions (Jim is definitely an artist, I am just willing). We had
thought of Spiderman 11, but that did look a little difficult...then went to the
design of the arts Tee-shirt for the island folk festival (OK, now that was a
great idea, and it was a possibility as Jim gridded it out in artistic
fashion.) However, on the morning of the Fourth, we all slept too late, lingered too
long at the breakfast table and poked our way out to the beach. As it was,
we were the last to enter the contest, but then began in earnest hauling
buckets of water and wet sand to our location. Actually, it looked great for an
hour..we made the traditional skull and crossbones..Jim did the skull, I made the
crossbones...Philip sort of chatted with the crowd earning us points for
Congeniality. It seemed everyone was on the beach strolling up and down in
bathing suits and sunscreen with cameras..we posed for our share of stardom. Alas,
alas, we did not win first prize...but a good time was had by alll.

We hurried home to drop off buckets and utensils and made our way to the
outdoors program of a reenactment of Blackbeard. He was portrayed by Ben Cherry,
an actor, and a very believable performance complete with sword and dagger.
We later spent a couple of hours with him at a party later talking about
history and performances.

The parade started at 3:00 and we had a prominent location on the
route...again, not Indiana. There were no tractors or manure spreaders...it was great
fun, floats and boats, and oddities of which make this island...this island.
Coolers of free beer were pulled along in the parade (now, I have never seen
THAT in Indiana)..The folks I sat with knew everyone in the parade, and I have
to say that I knew quite a few myself.

The rest of the day was spent biking from party to party, eating at every
one...and ending with fireworks over the Sound. It was a wonderful day.

The week has rushed by...what I have noticed is that time is fluid here..one
days melts into the next full of....well, I could just say full of life. I
have not been homesick for the white picket gardens as I have a white picket
cemetery across the street...each moment I am here is a gift. I love not wearing
shoes...I love the spontaneity of events..I love the quiet nights on the
pizer.

Don't forget the blog sites, we update them daily...lots more great stories
there!!

Family news: Mom and Dad will be leaving Texas for my house tomorrow...good
journey to them..and just a note, the raspberries are ready for picking.
Aaron will be driving to Atlanta to pick up Karen, and they will see what it is
like to live on the farm and begin to raise their family there.

From a tiny island in the Atlantic to all of you, wherever you are....I send
peace and wellness across sand and water...love to all, Lou Ann

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