Come mid morning today, the 4th of July, people will begin to gather along the eight or so blocks of Main Street of a certain small town of a certain northern state for the annual parade.

And on a certain corner midway between the Old Depot and the new hospital, a certain family friend will pour his parade-day specialty for all who dare, wicked-strong gin & tonics with cucumber stirs.

(Yes, the cucumber stirs qualify as a 'vegetable' today. Do I get extra credit that it's a Japanese cucumber from an American farmer who's been growing organic vegetables for 30 years? Let's hope!)

And a certain northern soul shall miss it all (including the post-parade fresh walleye in the town park, the Uffda Tacos from one of the food vendors, the cake walk hosted by the Congregational church, the $4 pig roast at the Legion, the homemade pie at the VF, the fireworks over the bay at 10:30) for the first time in, well, years and years ... except in spirit.