Birthday Town

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It is somewhat unfortunate that Columbia’s forty fifth birthday celebrationhad to fall on the weekend after LakeFest. The temptation to unfavorably comparethe two events is almost too great.
It would also be unfair.

Columbia’sbirthday party is more hyper loco than the regionally marketed LakeFest. Thiswas bought home to me almost as soon as I arrived. Passing by the ColumbiaVillages booth, Joan Lancos started to hand me a Columbia Villages reusableshopping bag but then pulled back explaining “You don’t live in Columbia do you?”

I’m a Columbiaexpat. No yellow shopping bag for me.
Despite the shopping bag stiff I lingered for awhile talkingloco politico stuff with Joan long enough to eventually elicit an audible sigh fromPeanut. We moved on, without a yellow shopping bag.

Passing in front of Clyde’sI showed Peanut the brick I bought her. I don’t think it made that great of animpression with her. Perhaps she’ll grow more comfortable with the whole brick thing over time. 
As we were inspecting the decorated umbrellas lined up alongthe dock, a couple came by with a young golden retriever, named Dakota. Theowner (I believe her name was Claire) asked me if I was a blogger. I pleadedguilty and she proceeded to tell me that she is a regular reader. “I’m a lurkerthough,” she said, “not a commenter.”
I immediately liked her. The fact that she and husband had asweet golden retriever only made it better.  I thanked her for recognizing me and being areader. That is one the best parts of hyper loco blogging for me, randomencounters with HoCo locos that I otherwise may have never met.
After taking our aforementioned paddle boat ride, we headedup to the main stage area when a Tae Kwon Do demonstration was about to takeplace. “This is something that really interests me,” Peanut informs me.
Who knew?
As we settled in to watch I noticed a young couple had foundthemselves a private perch to watch the show. I wondered how long it would bebefore someone told them to get down. It was approximately fifteen minutes.Still, for the moment they were getting away with it, it made a perfect summerpicture.As we left, I grabbed one of the available Sharpies andpenned my birthday greetings to Columbiaon the birthday cake replica set up for this purpose. I may no longer qualifyfor a free yellow shopping bag but I still love my old hometown all the same. Happy 45th!