Suddenly it's the official beginning of summer, and for a change the weather is cooperating. Today we had sun and warm temperatures (70's and 80's.) Tomorrow is supposed to be a little more cloudy, but still warm. Because the holiday weekend is so early this year some May events - the Ballard Syttende Mai parade (Norwegian Independence Day, for all you non-Scandinavians) and the opening of the Seattle International Film Festival, for two, seem to have been telescoped into a very short time period. By the 27th, Memorial Day 2008 will be history, with four more days of May to go.
I am old enough to remember when Memorial Day was May 30th. Period. Never mind if the day fell on Sunday or Tuesday or Thursday. We never went away, because my father was buried in end-of-term tasks at the end of the University year. If the weather happened to be good, there might be a picnic in someone's back yard, with the Indy 500 in the background, pushing the sound capabilities of a kitchen radio.
Northwest Folklife is the other major May Seattle event. Now 37 years old, the festival packs in a multitude of events over the three days of the weekend, rain or shine. This year a friend who loves to dance is staying with me, enjoying the chance to go from blues to swing to tango to waltz, or just watch costumed folk dancers from all over. She is a beautiful dancer, who never sits out a number unless she wants to rest!
My son and daughter-in-law, both Wesleyan graduates, are in Middletown this weekend for Reunion events. Here's the latest from his blog: "Ted Kennedy was supposed to be the commencement speaker at Wesleyan this Sunday, which is where I'm typing this. He called in a favor, so to replace him we're getting Barack Obama. Should be a madhouse, but fun."
Meanwhile, back in Seattle, the Ballard Sedentary Sousa Band plays at Folklife tomorrow, 11:55 a.m. at the Mural Amphitheater. Be there or be square!
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