Down South...and back North for 4th

Some say that you can't go back. That's true for some, but for a while on Thursday - it was as if I was back in grade school - on a visit with some old buddies from my private school days in Salem. Don and Eric were close friends growing up, so it was a real pleasure to catch up on a sunny afternoon near the very school grounds where we did our time.

Most of afternoon was spent at Don's house overlooking the McNary golf course....not far from McNary High School, where we discovered the shocking difference of public education. Don and I lived near enough to each other back in the mid-80s that we found plenty to get into trouble with. In Junior High we both had a facination for movie special effects and makeup - and spent many a Halloween making my house a morbid testament to our bloody talents.

One such incident lives in infamy to this day. We had put together a fake body with a knife in its back - and placed on the lawn of former teacher who lived next door to Don. As we hid back in his shed to watch the whole thing unfold, a passing motorist noticed the scene from the road - and decided to alert the authorities as we watched in horror. Suffice it to say, the police, fire department and an EMT unit rolled up and quickly debunked the moment. Perfectly timed, the teacher whom this had been prepared for arrived not long after - and had a little explaining to do.

Ah memories...

The forth saw us heading back up north to Olympia - and another family gathering around BBQ and the usual neighborhood apocalypse that ensues. Just so he wouldn't feel too left out - I picked up some non-flying ordinance at a nearby tent. In the fading hours of Friday, as we fought through the BBQ sleep that came after a late lunch - Greer got his shot at a little fire and smoke.

A couple sparking tanks, smoke bombs and a few fountain/blooms later - the boy had been officially drawn into the love affair that boys have with things that go boom.