4th of July party

Instead of going to see the Ohio Players and fireworks - broken up somewhat by rain - we went back to the home of Jessi, Vincent's prom date, and her family for a 4th of July party. Above was the 4th of July cake Jessi's mother, Debbie - our church's music director - had made. Below is Debbie with the cake.



And watermelon and the cake.

Debbie said when Jessi wanted to have a party they ended up just inviting three of her friends and their parents. Vincent was one of the friends and we were the parents. During the first week that Vincent was home a lot on crutches - and his friend Samantha was still in Denmark - Jessi visited several times. These are parents of another of Jessi's friends - with some ocmplicated back and forth between Cincinnati story. They were a little quiet.

The woman below is the mother of another of Jessi's friends. She is Russian American.

Below - in the kitchen - is the woman above's daughter and Jessi. There were hamburgers, hot dogs, potato salad, cole slaw, cake, and brownies and desert - not very good Weight Watchers food (except for the watermelon). I ate too much.

Throughout Vincent's convalescence Stephanei was picking out his clothes and often T-shirts that matched nicely with his (somewhat fading) pink hair.

This is Jessi's on-again, off-again Cincinnati friend.

Jessi's female's friend (step?) father and Jessi's father, Lewis - still recovering from a fall - chatted at the table. Jessi, Lewis, and Debbie bought this house about a year and a half ago - soon before the Derby party - and they have sort of an extra litle yard, with a cupola in it - and later these two men went out and smoked cigars - and then the Mom joined them. The man on the right is outgoing and - it turns out - likes reading some of the same kinds of fantasy books that Vincent likes. He recommended several series to Vincent, including one that I bought Vincent a complete set-in-one book of at a fantasy and mystery bookstore in Berkeley, but he hasn't read yet. We went home about 8:30 p.m., having been there for four hours. We'd bought Vincent a few fireworks, but he was tired and it was rainy and we eventually went to sleep.

-- Perry