By Emerson Drake
6/13/11
We had some extended family and their friends come for a three day visit last weekend. They came Friday and stayed through Sunday. We've done Yosmite before with them and they were hoping for a warm weekend in the pool (after all this we planned this two months ago and it being June and all) so when those hopes were thwarted by the low temperatures, following a BBQ we set out for downtown Modesto on Saturday.
We went to the farmers market by the library for a few veggies and snacks. After meandering up and down the street we went to the side of the library to sit and eat the snacks we had purchased on our way to the way to the McHenry Mansion. Much to our surprise they had removed the tables along the side of the library in the shade.
When we started across the street to the small park we noticed we had missed the legal window for using the park and risked a ticket if we sat there. Wanting to be law abiding citizens and not considered vagrants, we looked around for another place to sit.
Ahh, but in this portion of our much beloved Modesto, there was no "room at the inn" for weary travelers to rest.
Instead of heading downtown to the Graffiti Days celebration and looking at the old cars, we headed back home for another cookout.
Now I'm sure no one down at city hall cares if fourteen people decided not to spend their hard earned money on souvenirs s of the day but what would we buy to remember this day?
A no vacancy sign? Meaning no vagrancy sign?
"When they shut out the least of us they shut out all of us."
On the bright side, our neighbors came over and joined us when they gave up trying to go downtown because of the traffic backup cause by the police road blocks.
So we had a good time cooking with friends and family in the backyard around the pool instead of spending money downtown. Despite the unfriendly reception provided by the Chamber of Commerce and the City Council, a good time was had by all.
But next time we'll go somewhere more people friendly.
As everyone always says, there are a lot of nice friendly places to go just 90 minutes from Modesto.
Thank God for that.
