Fourth of July

It's the big holiday weekend of the summer. I'm working all weekend, and can't really take any time off, considering that I'm leaving for Mexico at the end of the week, so we're not taking part in celebrations, but it's interesting to watch people and what's going on.

I asked C. several times what people usually do on this weekend and what there is to see or take in part in. He said "hang out, chill, barbecue, hang out with friends, hang out ..." So, "hang out" seems to be the keyword. Judging from what I've seen you could probably also add: go to the beach, wear flags and flag colored ribbons and balloons, drink beer, party, be loud.

I happened to walk down to the beach yesterday afternoon (and mind you, it wasn't even the 4th of July yet), as I took a breather from work, and I must admit that I was a little offput. The beach was packed with people like I've never seen it, and then I mean "packed". It was like walking into a rock concert. There wasn't anything special going on, people were just standing there (and sitting wasn't an option, it was too crowded), hanging out and watching the other people. On the boardwalk, traffic was very slow. I got the feeling the crowd was somewhat rowdy, and a little agitated, as if waiting for something to happen. It was packed with police officers too. Police trucks would be parked at every other street intersection, plus there were officers on horseback, I guess to be able to see over the crowd ...

Yeah, people were fairly agitated, and pretty drunk. It's a big drinking weekend, I guess. All killing time, waiting for today to come and the fireworks at dusk. Everything was blocked in Pacific Beach, the traffic was so overwhelming. Drivers were desperately looking for parking space up by our house even, seven blocks from the beach. I walked up our street back home, on a corner of a street some guys were trying to sell parking spaces for 20 bucks. Lots of people were outside their homes, had tables out with flags and beer. A festival atmosphere, I must say. Some were even dressed in the american flag. Something a bit foreign to me ... In fact, I found some of the jubilations a bit over the board. I mean, their boisterous cheers and the happy grins on their faces made me think of guys celebrating their football club winning the championship for the 10th time in a row. And that's kind of the situation for Americans, I guess. They're used to being the biggest and the best, and they know it!

All the way up to my house I saw people walking around half naked, topless or in bikini. I almost felt uncomfortable, being fully dressed. Now remember, these are the same people that fined CBS network half a million dollars for having exposed the public for half a second to Janet Jackson's nipple on TV. I don't understand America ...

Happy Independence Day!