Maya and Jeanine volunteered at the Concord Fourth of July Picnic in the Park today as face painters. Oddly, in the eight years we have lived here this is the first time we have attended this free, volunteer sponsored event. It features live music, foods of all kinds, a children’s bicycle parade, a hot air balloon, a 5K road race, radar baseball toss, K9 unit drug sniffing dog demonstration, 911 fire house (simulated fire, kids with a real fire hose) and all manner of activities for kids of all ages. Later in the day the family minus Kyle (spending the weekend on Cape Cod with Hannah and her family) attended a Fourth of July party at the home of Tom Metzold, my high school wrestling partner and life long friend. This year there was enough interest to have a 5 team 4v4 volleyball tournament. Nico asked me to join his team with Tom’s son Evan and his friend. Nico has mad volleyball skills and I thoroughly enjoyed playing with him. Our team played five matches and prevailed as champion defeating a quad of young bucks who thought they were going to dominate the team with the old guy on it. Very satisfying win and entirely enjoyable day with an old friend, pictured here chatting with Nico. Tom and Karen have a lovely home in Westwood where they are joined by family and friends every year for a celebration that includes swimming, soccer, volleyball, delicious foods, and a fireworks show that rivals some small towns. This year there was enough interest to have a 5 team 4v4 volleyball tournament. Nico asked me to join his team with Tom’s son Evan and his friend. Nico has mad volleyball skills and I thoroughly enjoyed playing with him. Our team played five matches and prevailed as champion defeating a quad of young bucks who thought they were going to dominate the team with the old guy on it. Very satisfying win and entirely enjoyable day with an old friend, pictured here chatting with Nico.