Coming Together

A year ago my daughter was at my side as we labored over our grill. We were grilling hot dogs, burgers, and veggie burgers. The veggie burgers were for Courtney. The rest of the food was for our neighbors. It was national night out. This year the party moved two doors down to the Bailey's home.

This year I spent some time talking to Dave

Bailey. He's a reservist just back from Iraq. He told me that the funniest thing people ask him now that he is back is this. "Are you happy to be back?" He looks at me with a glint in the eye, and a smile. The answer obviously is "Duh!" But Dave takes it in stride. Plus he's lightning fast, he makes quick work of the brats and hot dogs.

Every year the highlight is when the Police arrive. When is that a highlight? Let's be honest, normally when the police come rolling up to your house it can't be good. But on this night, it's fun. Bill Baird and Patricia Gallagher posed for pictures and handed out all kinds of do-dads to the little kids. Better yet they gave them a chance to roam around in the paddy wagon. It was a fun evening, an opportunity to come together as a group, a chance to celebrate our efforts in combating crime in our area. I'd like to offer a big thanks to Nancy Davis who took these pictures. She is the person who runs our neighborhood watch. She has us in her rotation.