Memorial Memories

Each year as Memorial Day rolls around Heather says to me
--with conviction in her voice--

"You're spending the day with us, right?"

How can I say no to a holiday with my favorite family, 

especially since they have become my family?

Especially when there is such conviction in all of our hearts that spending the day together is the only obvious choice?

I can't say no; I say of course!

Which is why Monday morning found us loading up the minivan,

on our way to Boalsburg.

Why Boalsburg, you ask?

Because Boalsburg claims to be the birthplace of Memorial Day, and is right next door to us.

We wander the streets with the rest of the crowd,

gazing at the many many booths of goods that are offered for gazing and for sale, and then

--when we have had enough wandering and gazing--

we plop ourselves down in somebody's yard

to wait for the reason we go to Boalsburg in the first place:

Pie.

Yes, the Pie-Winning-Contest is our favorite part, because it provides us with

a) pie

and b) the anticipation of pie.

Here's how it works:

Pie-making people make some pie--every possible variety of pie--and bring it to the pie tent to be judged.

Two little old ladies sit at a little table in the shade of some old trees, and sample each and every one, while we watch and greedily await their decision.

Not because we care who wins, but because--once it's made--we are free to swarm the tent with all the rest of the pie-lovers and buy the remainders for a dollar a slice.

(In the enthusiasm of Heather: "A dollar a slice!!!!")

It's a long and painful wait, which is why we divert ourselves with

dramatic picture taking,

peaceful and lazy rumination,

deep discussion,

and

tickle fights.

(Yes, I have bruises.)

But then, suddenly, 

the wait is over and we have our moments of oohs and ahs as we devour (yes, devour) our own pie slice of choice, along with each other's.

Once the pie has happened, we put a move on....

because the only thing more fun 

than waiting for and eating our pie

is being poolside (and being inside that pool as well).

Then, when we've had our fill of the sun, the water, and the joy of being there all together,

we venture home.

We eat picnic leftovers from the day before.

We laze about on couches, with books.

We say, with sun-weary enthusiasm:

Such a good day!