4th of July Block Parties
I love talking about the body, mind, spirit connection with everything from yoga and Reiki sessions in Salt Lake City, but also how yoga extends off the mat for real life circumstances of building oneness through things like neighbors.
We moved to our new block in 1973 and ironically, three other families from our former street moved to the same block that very same year! Because of the cul-du-sac type shape of the block, there were a finite number of homes with a finite number of new families to meet.
One family decided that we should throw a 4th of July block party, so we did!
There were 24 children who lived on our block. 24 children out of 15 homes. We were the last of the baby boomer generation - and The Brady Bunch and The Partridge Family were the TV shows of that decade. One summer Marsha, Peter and Cindy came to our mall just one mile from our home. We all rode our bikes to see them! It was terrifically exciting for us at the time.
Four months of organizing and collaborative work effort went into the planning of this inaugural event. My YMCA program director father took a role in planning, brainstorming and implementing ideas. But the truth is, everyone contributed!
“If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
We started with a HUGE pancake breakfast.
We then proceeded to the activities. We lived in Southern California and just about everyone had a pool in their backyard, so we had pool activities like:
Underwater Swimming Contest (how many laps without taking a breath)
Penny pick-up (throwing pennies in a pool to see which kid could pick up the most pennies)
Treading water contest (my synchronized swimming classmates and I BLEW THE COMPETITION OUT OF THE WATER! No pun intended.)
Throughout the day, a variety of musical genres played. The mood was playful and light. The children wore face paint and didn’t stop running until fireworks shot up into the evening sky.
Big Band music played during cocktail hour and my parents danced in the street. We gave out homemade awards and closed out the daytime activities with a potluck dinner very similar to how the day began with pancakes.
When the night sky fell upon us, the fireworks, fountains and sparklers came out. We were all so tired, sunburned and dehydrated.
But more so, we were all so happy.
My dad had collaborated with the neighbors to photo document the entire event. He owned a recording studio and specialized in audio visual shows. Before we all returned back to school, he invited the entire block to his recording studio to show them the 6 projector slideshow carefully synchronized with music, interviews, and captured adventures.
These were the days of no video apps on iPhones nor digital recordings. The work was hard and time consuming and later paid off. Our block continued to organize these block parties over the 4th of July holiday for the next 10 years.
No one really moved away from our street during that time either. Something was created that held meaning for everyone. It’s been 52 years since that inaugural party. I’m still in touch with at least 50% of the folks I grew up with on that block
(well … the ones that are still alive!)
My mom turns 90 years old in August. Her brain is still sharp and her personality just as strong. She remembers details from those days with precision.
So, community gatherings? I think they’re a good thing.
My brother wrote to me about how his neighborhood was putting up Christmas lights in March when COVID shut down the world. He said the collective effort drew people closer together.
As we struggle during these crazy and scary times, are you able to think of one thing you can do to ease the pain of another? And then, can you make that happen? It will make all the difference.
I’m currently offering Reiki sessions in Salt Lake City and would love for you to come and try a session! I’m super passionate about this practice and would love to share the magic of Reiki with you.
