It’s July 3rd and a cooling breeze has kicked in as it does most days around 4 pm. I’m picking up my sister Susan and friend Marialee in a few hours as E. 2nd and B Street will be blocked for the fireworks show. Cars are starting to line up near the Harbor Master’s despite a five hour wait until dark. The Green is strewn with tents, umbrellas, and other shelters, families hunkered down for the big blowout at nine. A lively game of volleyball is in progress near the railroad station.
Hours later we enjoyed three different fireworks shows from our chairs in the middle of B Street. Benicia’s was the best, even without the drones, and we oohed and aahed as the sky filled with exploding stars. Clouds of smoke floated across a full amber moon — a good omen for tomorrow’s parade.
On July 4th walked over to E. 2nd to see some of the paraders line up and rehearse their moves. Was greeted by a huge flatbed truck packed with kids cheering “We are the Panthers, mighty mighty Panthers.” I introduced myself to Barbie, dressed head to toe in pink and her BFF The Little Mermaid. “Who are you wearing, I asked Barbie?” “Barbie,” she replied. She seemed more natural than her namesake doll, and her feet were flat. Her shimmering mermaid pal was wearing a sapphire blue sequined ensemble and was somehow able to walk despite being a fish out of water. They were part of the Benicia Theater Group which included Cinderella and her court, Tinkerbell and others.
No grass was visible on the State Capitol lawn as families spread their blankets edge to edge, unfolding chairs and opening coolers behind the railing where toddlers roamed freely and parents indulged in al fresco picnics. The Mexican charros were back, magnificent on their horses wearing silver laden saddles — Arabians, Quarter horses, Andalusians? Whatever their breed those steeds knew how to dance. Wearing wide sombreros, bushy mustaches, and flying the Mexican colors, the charros were reminiscent of Emiliano Zapata and Pancho Villa fathers of the Mexican Revolution and also charros.
Benicia’s human services programs were well represented with contingents from the Parkinson’s Association of the North Bay, Carquinez Village, paramedics and, of course, the Benicia Fire Department whose hook and ladder truck both started and ended the parade. An enormous gold plated former prisoners’ bus with no windows ominously rolled by. Named The Twerkolator, the San Francisco party bus seemed like an outlier next to the other patriotic and family-themed entries. What happens in the Twerkolator stays in the Twerkolator, I hope.
Finally settled in sitting on the curb in front of the Relik, cushioned by a couple of pillows. Waved to my neighbors David and Donna Dimmick in the Benicia Yacht Club entry, and called out to Lars Ekdahl of Carquinez Village who was skillfully maneuvering an orange golf cart from one side of the street to the other almost pulling off a few wheelies. Ran into Alan and Donalyn Lemone looking for their friends Michael Semansky and Denise. City Council members rode in individual vintage Mustang convertibles waving to their constituents — Mayor Young, Terry Scott, Kari Birdseye, Tom Campbell, and Trevor Macenski taking a timeout from on-going budget concerns. Benicia High School cheerleaders stopped at the State Capitol lawn to perform an animated, precision routine with skilled gymnastic maneuvers and lots of pom pom action.
Gorgeous vintage Art Deco cars rolled by followed by a large fleet of black Model Ts. The exhaust was palpable. A giant outrigger floated by filled with happy kayakers who were probably the driest they’d ever been in a kayak. There was a dog grooming truck, troops of Cub and Boy Scouts and Brownies and Girl Scouts in full dress uniform. Benicia Public Library was represented with Patrice of the bright orange bob lagging behind to enthusiastically work the crowd.
And then it was over. Parade watchers emptied the sidewalks in minutes. The police drove by announcing over the speaker, “The sidewalks and side streets are now open.” I took a picture of Patrick from Adobe taking a picture of his crew shoveling up horse droppings. “Adobe has always cleaned up after each parade but we haven’t had horses in years,” said Patrick with a smile — watching his compadres honing that skill set as he headed to his truck unsullied. Benicia really knows how to throw a party!
Reminder. Strolling down First Street can be risky. Last week I suddenly heard the ominous clacking of wheels and then a skateboarder flashed by missing me by inches. Shook up and upset I hollered, “No skateboards allowed on sidewalks!” Still sailing on his board, he turned around with a sneer and shouted, “I can’t heeeear you!” He was wearing white ear buds. Maddening. Probably best not to walk First Street wearing earphones or without your hearing aids as you might miss the menacing sound of ball bearings barreling behind your back. Bummer!
###
Letters From Benicia 