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Health & Fitness

Woodstock is HOT, HOT, HOT

The Lost Towne Laker rambles on about summer in Woodstock

A few weekends back, we were told temps would soar to the mighty and distinguished level of over one hundred degrees.  When it actually descended on us, I was skeptical.  I decided to do a scientific test by stepping out onto my deck for several minutes during this heat wave.  I’m here to report to you that I easily survived those few minutes and was able to safely return to the comfort of my air-conditioned living room with little or no lasting damage.

But now we have more high temps and I’m once again confined to the dark, coolness of my air-conditional man cave.  I’m missing all the wonderful happenings in our quaint town.

I did not, however, miss the Fourth of July festivities.  In fact, I was amazed to see tens of thousands of people lining the street for that parade.  But for the first time in my life, I walked away from a parade.  Besides the heat, that parade was nothing but an hour-long political ad.  Some would argue that’s the whole point of Independence Day.  All I know is it was hot, and I couldn’t make it to the end.  Politicians kept coming in endless waves.  I had no idea so many people were running for so many things.  I thought it would never end.  If we banned them from the parade, it would only last 3 minutes, and that would include time for the clown on the tiny motorcycle to make a few extra turns.

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I tried redirecting several of the politicians onto side streets.  I even tried scaring them off by waving my arms and yelling, “H’ya!  Shoo!”, but it could not be done.  Politicians don’t spook easily.

Hold on, there’s someone at the door.

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Okay, I’m back.  By an odd coincidence just as I’m writing this, Senator Chip Rogers dropped by.  He was going door-to-door.  I shook his hand and chatted with him.  Then I looked around to see if the rest of the parade was coming, too.

Woodstock also had their annual July 4th festival, chock full of expensive burgers and fries.  I never realized french fries could be priced at 4 dollars and actually sell.  Some people will waste money on anything.  But they were quite tasty.

The best part of the festival was the band, Block Party.  I think they were the same band as last year.  Just sing the oldies and you’ve got a crowd.  Kudos to whoever picked that band.  If there’s one thing Woodstock knows, it’s music.

Even as I write this I realize the 4th of July was weeks ago, and another summer is brazenly rushing past me before I could find my flowered shirt and parrot hat.  Summer is like that.  Even my children feel the pressure of summer’s end drawing near.  They are watching tv at a tremendous rate, as if trying to store up tv in their system for the lean, school months – like bears fatting up for the winter.  Through much diligence they have successfully forgotten everything from the previous school year.  I always encourage them to start off with a clean slate.

When I was a kid, school didn’t start until Labor Day.  Summer really did last longer, and it had a different feel.  There was nothing that had to be done, nothing that needed doing at a certain time.  I remember endless walks in the woods, building forts, climbing trees, and most importantly, digging holes.  I would dig holes to look for buried treasure, to build underground forts, or to hide my marbles from the girls.  Some say I’ve never found them.

I started to write a guide to all the hot happenings in Woodstock, but I changed my mind.  Instead, I encourage each of you to slow it down a notch.  Try to find that little boy or girl inside you.  Or, if you happen to be a little boy or girl reading this, stay the course.  Tap into a place in your past when time had less meaning, when the pace was slower.  Life it too short, and summer is even shorter.  If only for the afternoon, get away from your schedule.  Lay in the grass and look at the clouds.  Or go for a leisurely walk in the cool woods.  Take some water.

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