Fresno Famous

The spoken word can be very powerful. This is very moving.

Gwendolyn is a right Yankee Doodle Dandy! Yesterday was her birthday. In the whole of my life never met one who had the 4th of July as birthday. I tell you true. Given all that Gwen has done to make Calaveras a better place(she is eyes and ears at 150-178 N Calaveras) it was quite proper to make sure that the day was special for her.

Gwen had volunteered to do holiday cook up, and MOI was more than happy to make sure that she had all of the things needed. Gave MOI and Paul a right good cook up for the holiday.

Paul, my flatmate, was gobsmacked when he had to haul folding table and chair and the laptop down to the carport for MOI in the morning. The 4th of July is the perfect time to play patriotic music and MOI wanted to make sure that the El Capri and the neighborhood got off to a proper start for the holiday. From half 8 to half 10, patriotic tunes filled the road and the courtyard.

The reaction to this display of patriotic zeal was a mixed bag. Several tenants at the El Capri came out and wished MOI a happy holiday and commented on the music(they liked it). Some of the tenants(the bad ones) shook heads and murmured insults at MOI. There was a van that stopped in from of the El Capri and rolled down window and played loud rap music to try and drown out the patriotic music. Many of the folks who drove by waved and several of the folks walking past stopped and listened for a bit.

Robert, my neighbor, had a smile and just took it all in. He came out to water garden as Kat Smith was belting out 'God Bless America'. Robert and his wife were going to spend the day at their son's home, the one with the new baby. He made sure that Old Glory was flying proudly. H. Spees also had his flag out, as did other neighbors. The El Capri always had the American Flag displayed, and on special holidays, the massive flag is hung.

The day had got off to a smashing start. The Fresno Bee had the whole Opinion Page devoted to the holiday and MOI used it along with floral, to post a snap on here.

The music played on the road was a mixture of artists. Something for everybody. Made sure that Spanish was heard. Josh Groban got much play(think his rendition of the national anthem is most moving). Every time the anthem was played, this old geezer stood up. Think the neighbors thought me odd.

Like MOI told Robert, it is important that the folks on my road know that all of the holidays that celebrate out country are important. One should stop and think on all that one has received by virtue of living in this great land. We may not be perfect, but we strive to be 'more perfect'. Civic Pride is being taught on Calaveras and on the road.

Earlier, when MOI was washing down the garage in the back of the El Capri, a neighbor came up to and told that she was pleased at all that MOI did and thanked me. What a lovely gift to receive on the 4th of July.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sekHkR5BKOY Give this a listen to. MOI has been very blessed in life. When you have been fortunate to visit all of America, this piece takes on a special meaning. More so when one has lived across the pond and one tells folks about the splendour that is America.