National Night Out

Last night was the National Night Out. I'm not exactly clear on the meaning and purpose, but I think it is supposed to bring communities together, show togetherness against crime? Something like that. In any event, it was at the lake park down the street from our house. We haven't been out much since returning from vacation, doing a lot of laundry and general vacationing from vacation, aka vegetating. DJ has been bouncing off the walls, like always. I think he gets more hyper everyday.

They had threatened rain and thunderstorms, but the night ended up being perfect. About 78 degrees, humid, but breezy. After dinner, we herded DJ out the door and we walked the couple blocks to the lake park.

When I read about this National Night Out a few weeks ago, the article said they were bringing in a helicopter from the US Park Service for everyone to look at, ask the pilots questions, etc. DJ is a boy, he would like a helicopter, right? He did, for about 15 seconds. We also met one of the US Park Service horses, a couple police dogs, and saw a giant ladder fire truck. All of these things held DJ's attention for 15-20 seconds. Then he danced along to the singer/guitarist who was performing, and we headed home again.

The rescue squad was doing a demonstration on how they extricate passengers from a wrecked vehicle. I was almost in tears before they started, but it wasn't as bad as I expected, to watch, and there was so much going on, you couldn't really hear the crunching of metal. I kept telling myself it was therapeutic or something.
(If you don't know, I was in a very serious car accident almost 11 years ago, and I had to be cut from the car. I don't remember everything that happened, but the sound of them cutting the door off, just inches from my head will stick with me forever)

We only stayed for about an hour, but it gave us the motivation to get out of the house for a little while, have a nice walk, and personally, I thought the helicopter was pretty cool! We were even standing near it when it took off again! It also allowed us to wear DJ out. I didn't bring the stroller as I sometimes do on walks, and he was running all over the fields there at the park, and dancing to the music. He was definitely tired when we got home.

Up next...well, not much. DJ was invited to a birthday party on Saturday for one of his classmates, but mostly we are just trying to enjoy as much time together before my mom has to go home on the 19th.

Oh yeah, and getting back into the habit of practicing guitar before I start lessons again next month! I have barely picked it up since I stopped lessons at the end of April, when DJ's mom left for Africa. So bad!!!