It is, it is, a happy July! The work project that's been taking up my emotional time is now out the door (for the moment). I get to see some of the family later this month. The graphic design for a local community project is done. There's enough rain here to keep plants happy (sorry, friends and family in the west) but enough nice days to do fun things.
Of course, it rained on Monday, when the Mormon Tabernacle Choir came to Saratoga - but it was still a happy, inspiring evening that gave me confidence for the deadline - all is well, all is well.
And it rained yesterday, for the annual reading of the Declaration of Independence. But that meant that the colleagues that I invited from the office - YES I INVITED PEOPLE!!! AND THEY CAME!!! - got to see the new library at Williams College and the restored gallery.
The restored gallery/special collections library was a bit of a bonus. I was convinced that they'd torn it down - Williams College has done that kind of thing in the distant past. But there it was (that's not it above, I can't find any pictures of it online), with expanded exhibits and sufficient air conditioning (a definite improvement).
Besides the founding documents, they had Audubon books on exhibit, along with ephemera commemorating John Garfield (he was a Willliams grad), and, a complete surprise, a painting by Pauline Baynes.
Turns out they have her papers and paintings. If she sounds familiar, it's because she did the illustrations for the Narnia books. The poster of her Narnia map hung on my bedroom closet door for years.
So here I am. In a country where I can vote, own property, practice my religion, travel freely across state lines, read whatever I want, and celebrate with others who think that listening to the reading of these documents is part of a perfect celebration.
It doesn't hurt that the first Sonic in the area opened this weekend. Diet Cherry Lime sodas, anyone?
Happy July, friends!