7-5-18 The joy of a small-town 4th of July parade and our small-town life style

One of the elements that makes South Whidbey Island a special place to do business is our small-town atmosphere. I’d always lived in big cities (Los Angeles, Seattle, Bellevue) before I moved to Whidbey Island (Greenbank and then Freeland).

This small-town feeling applies to many other aspects of living here, but it also makes this a special place to have a business. It’s important to do your part to have a business that connects with people in the community and contributes to our style of life. You can feel that connection when you walk into a retail business or simply work with someone who has a service they provide.

And, you could feel that sense of our small-town community at the annual Maxwelton 4^th of July Parade. All of the “floats” are homemade using trucks, trailers, tractors, bicycles and whatever else people can use.  This year’s parade took over an hour from beginning to end, and the streets were lined with hundreds (maybe more than that) of adults and children, locals and visitors, all having fun.

Rich and I had the special privilege to ride on a float created by Helen Price Johnson’s husband, Dave, that promoted many of the local Democratic candidates.

Helen sent me a note that really touched me about the meaning of this holiday and this kind of parade and living in our community:

“If you're like me, I get fatigued by the daily news reports of outrageous behavior. But being against the craziness isn't enough. To be effective, we must focus on our positive message of public service, accountability, due process, environmental protection and human rights. Tell people what you stand for. Ask candidates what they stand for. Speak up for what you believe in, not just what we reject.”