The Big Parade!

I was able to attend this year's 4th of July Parade in Cannon Beach, Oregon for the firs time in 3 years.  It is a really fun experience, and is the epitomy of small town America.  Anyone who wants can be in the parade if they show up at the appointed time and place. Each time we have discussed taking part with a Hoyt Family Float, but invariably we wind up sitting on the sidelines and just watching the show. That is not true for the Jackson Street Lawn Chair Brigade, which can be seen showing off it's lawn chair skills in the photograph on the left.

In the photograph on the right, of course, is none other than a living, breathing Statue of Liberty.  I think that parade participant carries off that look very well.  I have often thought of wearing an outfit like that myself, possibly even to work, but at my age I am afraid my employer would think it was a sign of early (or perhaps right on time) Alzheimer's and have me taken away to God knows where.

And I must say everyone in our group thoroughly enjoyed the event.  It was definitely a feel good kind of day.  It was a warm, sunny morning, everyone was in a good mood, and the entertainment was all good fun.  While most of the family drove to the parade, a few hearty souls, including my cousin Annette and myself, walked to and from the parade along the beach. Although it was warm downtown, it was actually windy and kind of chilly along the beach, thanks to the 54 degree temperature of the water.  There was not a single swimmer in sight, not even a surfer in a wet suit.  If I had only packed my speedo, I would certainly have put it on and shown those Oregonians what Coloradans are made of.  Maybe next time.

A Hoyt Family Reunion In Cannon Beach

I took an Amtrak bus from Portland to Cannon Beach, Oregon Sunday morning to attend a Hoyt family reunion.  I arrived around 11:00 and headed down the beach to find the beach house owned by the father of my cousin John's wife, Barb.  I couldn't find the place, and so had to call to get a better description of where they live.  I talked to my cousin John, got a better lay of the land, and found the place a short while later.  Of course, once I tipped John and Barb off that I was heading there, they left the place immediately and nobody was there when I arrived.  I gave them another call and John explained that they were still out shopping. Yeah . Right.  Eventually they resigned themselves to the fact that I would have camped out front until midnight if they did not return, and came back, so it all worked out.  By the next day everyone had arrived safely and we all had a great time, thanks to John and Barb.  In the photograph above are (from left to right) Barb, John, my Uncle Jack (my father's brother), my cousin Annette, Pat (an in-law), Jason (another in-law), and my cousin Denise.

A Weekend In Portland And Cannon Beach

I spent last weekend in Portland and Cannon Beach, Oregon to attend a family reunion with my fellow Hoyts (my father Nelson's brother Jack's side of the family), as well as with several relatives from the other side of their family.  I flew into Portland Saturday morning, found I could not check into the luxury downtown Motel 6 Resort Hotel until 2:00, and then proceeded to walk across the Steel Bridge (seen in the photo above) with my backpack to check out the Saturday Market along the river.  To get to the market, you have to walk through Old Town/Chinatown, and that requires you to walk down streets where the homeless have set up camp.  I have never walked down a street before where the homeless have set up tents, sleeping bags, beds made of garbage, and everything else the entire length of the block.  It is quite unnerving, and a big reason why I have never been too fond of Portland.  Walking past those homeless people is pretty damn depressing.  I am not sure why so many elect to sleep on the street instead of shelters, or if even Portland has shelters.  Homelessness is a major problem in Portland, and another sad thing about living in our times.

Happy Fourth Of July!

Happy Fourth of July Everyone! In honor of this most auspicious day, I am featuring a photograph I took several years ago of the annual 4th of July parade in Cannon Beach, Oregon.  It is a resort town, but at heart it is simply small town America, and the parade seemed to include almost every resident in the city.  The rule is to just show up at the appointed place and time, and your're in.  Which means the parade viewers were mainly tourists  like me.  I was there for the Hoyt family reunion, which was being held at the beach house owned by the parents of my cousin John's wife Barb.  A great time was had by all.  I volunteered to be the caretaker of that beach house for a nominal fee, and my cousin John said he would get back to me about it. He never did.  Go figure.

In The Garden Of Beasts

I just finished reading Eric Larson's book In The Garden of Beasts, which tells the story of the ambassador to Germany and his family back in the 1930s, when Hitler came to power.  It is a fascinating story, and like his previous book, The Devil in the White City, which tells the story of a serial killer during the 1892 World's Fair in Chicago, reads like an exciting novel.  The book gives you a good look at what it was like, and the thinking of politicians during that period, but I especially was struck by the antisemitism that was prevalent at that time not only in Germany but in the American diplomatic core.  It is of course hindsight I am expressing, but if only those diplomats woke up and realized what they were witnessing and what the end result would be, perhaps 6 million lives might have been spared.  A very sad chapter of history, especially considering that maybe it could have been avoided.

More On Final Friday...

As I was leaving the Final Friday event at the Denver Art Museum (The DAM) Friday night, there was an art talk going on just in front of the entrance. Mexico City designers Hector Esrawe and Ignacio Cadena were discussing their interactive art installation titled La Musidora.  I can only describe it as an extended row of colorful lounge chairs, dove-tailed so that each person is facing the person next to them, encouraging conversation and interaction with your neighbor.

As you can see from the photograph on the right, the exhibit seems to be  a great success.  I get the feeling from the talk that the installation was designed specifically for the plaza in front of the museum.  What I want to know is whether the museum bought it outright, and whether it will remain where it currently is from now on?  Is it safe to leave it out in the elements?  How much did they pay for it?  Is it theft-proof?  And does it come with a warranty? The people in the photograph don't seem to care, however.  They are just enjoying a pleasant, cool evening in Denver. More power to them.

Running Into Frankie After 20 Years

I went to the Denver Art Museum for their Final Friday event yesterday evening, and signed up for Detour: Work It Out - an active workout tour of the museum's Hamilton Building.  The tour leader was very friendly, asked me if I was retired or still worked and where.  I mentioned the bookstore where I currently work as the bookkeeper, and also that I used to be the Finance Manager at the University of Denver Bookstore.  It turns out that the tour leader, seen in the photograph above, was none other than Frankie, who is married to Heidi, who worked at the DU Bookstore as the general book buyer 20 years ago.  I did not recognize Frankie at all, but he recognized me and took a photograph to e-mail to Heidi.  The last time I saw them was just after their first child was born.  He is now 20 years old - it is unbelievable how quickly time passes. Heidi and Frankie now have 4 children,  and Frankie owns a gym called Cole Fusion Fitness, just down the street from the museum.  Great to see you again, Frankie!  Thanks for the workout!