This past weekend was a busy time in the “Crossroads of the Great South” and beyond our borders as well. There was something going on for everybody, worldwide. The first week in May leads off a week of celebrations around the planet beginning with “May Day” on Monday, May 1st. May Day, as we all know is the ancient “renewal of nature, welcome back Springtime” ritualistic observance of the glory of nature. In communist countries, however, they call it “International Worker’s Day” which sounds like fun and surely must get all the party animals in Leningrad and North Korea out whooping it up, right? But sorry comrades, no holiday, and no vacation pay for you. In some other foreign countries, like San Francisco or Chicago, May Day has become known as the “Socialist Labor Party Day. So, I guess they all got their hair sprayed purple and picked up their black hoodies from the cleaners and had an “Antifa-good time” in those places. We can only hope they all had connecting flights through Atlanta!
On a much more positive, uplifting note, Cinco de Mayo Day on Friday, May 5, commemorated the victory of Mexican forces over invading French armies in 1862 and also celebrated Mexican American culture (especially the very tasty cuisine which is available right here in town). Now, that sounds like we are getting somewhere. Mexico, Si, France, No !
Of course, when the weekend arrived, the most important of all events was the annual “Treemendous” celebration of the annual Pine Tree Festival. For the 76th time, the festivities, which began on Friday night and continued for most of Saturday, did not disappoint. Long-time Pine Tree Festival committee member and super Kiwanian Dess Smith was named the parade Grand Marshall and Green Jacket recipient. That was truly a fitting and well–deserved honor for a hardworking inspirational member of this community. Congratulations Dess!
Another weekend event also featured a parade and celebration a little to the east of us. The folks in Great Britain really know how to do pageantry and how to honor their nation. All of Saturday’s Coronation ceremonies of King Charles III reflected an underlying respect for the permanence of principle and the lessons of history. People have different ideas about the monarchy, but it's not just about the Royal family, it's about tradition, history and the norms of civilized society that people have fought for centuries to preserve. Every successful nation that has stood the test of time has some chips and cracks in their past, but to give in to the demands of those who want to rewrite history just to suit their own progressive narrative is the worst kind of cowardice. The discipline and order that Great Britain has demonstrated in resisting that sort of insidious deception is enviable. Maybe we should take a lesson from that. Long Live the King!
Rounding out the weekend was the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby. There were horses at the King’s Coronation parade, and horses at the Pine Tree Festival, but these horses at Churchill Downs eat better, ride in better vehicles and get better medical care than most of us. A little horse named Mage came from out of nowhere to surprise the crowd of 150,000 people who probably lost their big, floppy hats and spilled their mint juleps when the little 8 horse crossed the finish line. If they bet on Mage, they won big with 15-1 odds. Just goes to show you, the Kentucky Derby is still the most exciting 2 minutes in sports. Run Mage Run!
Hope everyone had a great weekend and Hats off to the Pine Tree Festival Committee!
