Happy 400th Anniversary, America!

HAPPY 400TH ANNIVERSARY, AMERICA!
The mayor of Hamilton Bermuda kissed my hand! It all started for the adventure. It was Saturday, May 12, a lovely humid day like we get in Richmond, with plans to pay bills and plant flowers bought last week.
Pictures in the morning paper of the 400th anniversary celebration in Jamestown caught my eye. It’s just 60 miles away – an easy 1 hour drive. Plus Bruce Hornsby is performing at 6:30! A quick website search with info and directions and I was in! Several phone calls to friends to share the adventure were fruitless. Quickly plants and bills were done and I was off.
It really was an easy drive to the lot to get my ticket and catch the shuttle to the biggest, oldest anniversary I’ll ever attend. As I boarded big yellow school bus driven by Miss Pierce, I stopped while a mother wrote her cell phone number on her 5 yr. old daughter’s hand. A 30 minute ride delivered me to the park.
The Jamestown Festival Park is large and very well done. Signs are everywhere as is security. My folding chair didn’t pass security so on the table in security it went to be left behind. My industrial backpack and camera, recovered from their trek through Africa, did get pass security.
Now I’m in the festival. The park is huge, the pace is easy, the language is English and dollars are changed 1 for 1 for scrip, the only currency that gets food and brews. This is too easy.
Exhibits are everywhere. Numerous activities are plentiful for all ages. My walk-about took me to the VIP area where I saw a church friend. He introduces me to a tall handsome black man wearing Bermuda shorts, high socks and navy blazer. It’s J. Michael ( I forget his last name), the mayor of Hamilton, Bermuda. And that’s how I was kissed by the mayor from Bermuda. I’ll add he has great legs, too.
A native American Indian taco (how native is a taco?) snack later and more wandering took me to a large tent where 5 guys are in kilts. They have great legs, too. Be still my heart. Rain poured from the threatening skies as I sat under cover and looked at the great scenery all the while tapping my foot to the rhythm of their Irish jigs.
The skies dry and it’s Bruce time. He opened with the National Anthem – piano only. He was magnificent. He really loves his work – his eyes sparkle and he and his Noisemakers jam at each note. One of my favs was “With a big stick he’s swinging at the dirt”. All golfers understand that one. The drummer, guitarists, saxophonist….all of them have a blast. It’s contagious because the audience caught it too. Even the sour ladies, sitting in front of me, wearing bad sequin ball caps and yellow name tags identifying them as part of Sunshine Tours caught the fun and smiled a time or two.
As luck would have it, Billy, a young man from Richmond, sat next to me. We were kindred spirits. We clapped, high-fived, hollered, laughed and loved every note and word together.
Ricky Skaggs was just as good as Bruce. The fiddles and bluegrass were wonderful. Many big screens were around so seeing the stage was very easy and the camera shots were excellent. Naturally some artistic one I captured. Too soon it was time to leave.
A short walk to the shuttle was just right to stretch. My beach chair that failed security was right where I left it! Happy day!
Again luck would have it that the big screens were visible from the shuttle stop so I saw Chaka Khan too.
What a party! Happy 400th Anniversary, America!

P. S. Math was never my forte in school. However, if 2007 is the 400th anniversary of the settling in Jamestown in 1607, does that mean that the Pilgrims hadn’t even thought about leaving their mother country? Again, I say, Happy 400th Anniversary, America.