July 5th, 2008

Fourth of July Zuanich Adventure

Hayden’s First
Fourth of July
Zuanich Park, Bellingham

Few places in Bellingham compare to Zuanich Park for 4th of July fun. Nestled alongside Squalicum Harbor – and the same location as the start of the Ski to Sea kayak leg – Zuanich becomes temporary home to many hundreds of revelers, all of us fitting nicely into two categories: Partying people-watchers and party-people worth watching.


In the late afternoon, Heather, Hayden and I loaded up the van with our “Best of Americana” toy collection, including BBQ grill, Frisbee, skateboard, Hayden’s exer-saucer, a beach blanket, and a bag of food from Trader Joes, and arrived at the park by 6 p.m. There to greet us were the Burnette’s – Mischa and Danielle and their wonder-daughters Maddy and Abby. And before long, our friends Dennis and Liz Flaherty showed up with their two incredi-boys Hayden and Kieran and their Aunt Shaun.

Maddy & Abbey

The Burnetts


Decked out in his patriotic leisure suit gifted by Grandma ‘Berta, Hayden got the whole crowd in the mood for fun with some Independence Day Hand Surfing under the giant American flag.

Then he and Mama hit the slide together, Hayden squealing all the way down!

The Burnette’s took turns tearing up the sky with their stunt kite, and the Flaherty Boys tripled up on the longboard for a session of sidewalk surfing!
Maddy above and the Flaherty boys below

We all feasted on BBQ roast beast and mango lemonade as the sun crept toward the horizon, lighting up the downtown west-facing windows like flares.

Then darkness set in, and the celestial explosions cracked open the night sky to the collective ooh’s and ahh’s of thousands. Heather and I were curious and unsure what Hayden’s reaction would be to the way-past-bedtime light- and sound-show, but he once again awed us with his cool-headed wonderment as he lay there utterly transfixed – scarcely even blinking – through the 15-minute show. He LOVED it – every sparkle, crackle and chest-shaking boom of it.

When the last ashes had fallen and the hoards of families, friends and fun-loving freeks funneled back to the streets and toward home, Hayden snoozed quietly – no doubt dreaming of the spectacle he’d just witnessed – and Heather and I agreed again, after 5 years of life in Bellingham, what a postcard perfect place it is that we so proudly call “Home!”

~In the Spirit of Compassion and Adventure~

Heather, Brandon and Hayden

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