Pioneer Day

Today is my favorite holiday of the year--Pioneer Day--which celebrates the arrival of the Mormon Pioneers into the Salt Lake Valley on this day in 1847.  It is celebrated with a two-hour parade that begins on South Temple and turns south on 2nd East and then down 9th South to Liberty Park.  I loved this parade as a child and I still love it.

There is also a marathon that begins in the early morning.  And at night, there's fireworks.  Excellent.

And best of all, we don't have to exchange gifts.

We sat out in front of our building in old folks' chairs with friends, Christine and Bill, drinking water and eating pretzels and howling our appreciation of Clydesdales and Polynesian bands.  Sam and Sarah and kiddies joined us after awhile.

 For lunch, we ate Belgian waffles across from Pioneer Park, and returned to the apartment where Bill read us bits and pieces of Harold Bloom's Genius, which he carries around with him these days.

Hail Pioneers!  Hail Friends!  Hail Family!