After having spent a few days in San Antonio for a trade show, my friend Terry and I spent the 4th of July in Fredericksburg, Texas. Who knew I'd run into my peeps deep in the heart of Texas...?
Photos below the fold.
So I knew I was spending the 4th in a quite red part of the country and I was prepared for that. As a Democrat and an atheist I thought there would be much I'd have to let roll off my back... and there was. But there is also much good in this part of the country and I recommend a visit to Fredericksburg for anyone who wants to get a glimpse of small town America. It's a real gem and the people couldn't be any nicer.
They have their own parade down Main Street on the 4th and, as we were staying in a cottage a couple of blocks from Main (it's touted as being romantic, but it's also great for a couple of friends, or a couple of couples, traveling together), my friend and I walked over for the parade. About midway through the parade imagine my pleasure when I spotted this gentleman:
Say hello to George Keller, Chairman of the Democratic party in Gillespie County!
Following him were these wonderful folks:
(Oddly enough, I'm actually a distant relative of the Daniel Boone.... I wonder if this Daniel Boone is also a relative.)
And then these wonderful folks followed them:
Don't you love that truck?
I so enjoyed seeing these folks. There were at least as many Republican floats in the parade, and the sweet gal we were seated next to (who went home and brought chairs for us!) said "these are the only Democrats you'll see around here," but they were my peeps nonetheless and I wanted to hug them all for having the chutzpa to proudly proclaim their party affiliation in this conservative part of the country.
I have to admit, I haven't even had the guts to put a sticker on my car yet, as I got guff from some folks four years ago. I think now is the time, though. If these folks can loudly and proudly identify with the Democrats in Texas, I'd better not be such a wimp about identifying myself in Southern California.
This is only my second diary but I had to post it in the hope that these photos would make anyone who reads this feel as good as I did.