Before I knew it, July Fourth was bearing down on me. It’s flag waving season which officially starts with Memorial Day. The flag has its own holiday between two flag related holidays so it has to keep flying. This town was lacking in homemade flag displays and wind. I couldn’t find the kind of flag displays I like to bring to the world. The flags I did see were listless and dull. My Pittsburgh Orbit counterpart is sure to have some things up his sleeves in the flag department. He might even be disappointed in my offerings. In my defense, I looked. I searched high and low on a recent Sunday Parkways bike tour of the Cully neighborhood. Those folks put their creativity into gardening and giant butterflies. There was no flag decor at all that had me stopping. Sure, there are other parts of the city, but this year, time was in short supply. Despite the lack of excitement, I really had to reflect on how much I like seeing flags flying. I was haunted on a recent highway drive. There were no drive by photography opportunities. Meanwhile images of flags appeared everywhere–a giant flag sign hung on the cement plant, an artfully designed flag draped across a Heartland tractor-trailer, then I noticed there’s a small flag sticker on city buses. Images for next year, I guess.
All Hail Retail
Bombastic displays are perfect for this time of year. Sell the product, sell America, pump up the volume with cardboard cut outs. Buying stuff you don’t really need becomes patriotic but hey it’s truly the season of soda. It’s nice to see real and cardboard align. I noticed the fabric flag from inside the store but I couldn’t get a photograph from the reverse angle. I’m glad I headed out through the entrance so I could embrace the spectacle.
I went back weeks later and the mannequin was wearing something completely different and far less patriotic. It’s as if someone bought the shirt off his back. And what a shirt!! Who is thinking they could get away with this get up? I’d sure like to try. You’d always have the perfect July Fourth outfit that you would have to wear every year to get your money’s worth. I’d need to find more patriotic shoes. The risk would be getting laughed out of the pool party. At least you hope people would be respectful enough not to throw you in the pool to keep from getting the flag wet.
Mega displays are eye sores battling sight for sore eyes. The paper plates were pricey at seventeen cents a piece. When am I going to learn to splurge? Still my local Fred Meyers did a good job loading me up with red, white and blue imagery. Perhaps not as exciting as the Summer of Soda buy two twelve packs get three free sale that felt like buying a piece of the American Dream. Somebody wake me up.
Displays were few and far between this year at a local discount store, but it’s nice to know there’s a wreath for all seasons. The sign in the background caught my eye and seems perfect for any American who may forget where they live.
Insane patriotic butterflies, that classic pick up truck motif and a God Bless America cube line the shelves of the impulse buy section at a TJ Maxx. If you get the fever you can get your fix of bad, yet patriotic, decisions before heading to the register.
Don’t Fence Me In
Like a tattoo, sometimes you can’t tell if it’s real or not. This flag, possibly painted with real or washable paint, could hang around all year or get washed off after the holiday. Regardless, it’s a nice touch of patriotism and fence art. Not recommended, but since traffic was just right I didn’t have to get out of the car.
The Drive-Bys
Tree lined flags out in places like Lake Oswego and Tigard (above) create a bit of pomp. The flag may be limp but it gets credit for showing up. Note drive by photography is neither safe nor smart. When we think we’re too busy to stop and take a picture we probably shouldn’t be taking it. I guess a headline like “Blogger Killed in a Seventeen Car Pile Up Due to Drive By Picture Taking,” might, at least, drive a few more readers to the site.
Every year at this time, every street lamp gets a flag on a particular street in Lake Oswego. You might even have a shirtless man sighting. I thought those guys were supposed to be jogging. It’s picturesque and has a small town effect even though the street cuts through a very suburban section of town. It certainly deserves an A for effort.
At least my local pub flag can catch a breeze. There’s something comforting about seeing the flag stretched out like a yawning cat while catching late afternoon shade. It sure beats the usual 49ers flag. If only I could just get there and have someone else make dinner for a change.
Tangled Up In Red, White and Blue
I obsessed over the tangled flags this flag season. It was heart breaking to see twisted star spangled banners tying themselves up in the wrong way–stuck in the gutter or hung up on a light fixture. This is no way to fly the flag. Remedy this, pronto!!
Planted Not a Plant
A slight photographic blur denotes bee vision, but this image feels unique in its simplicity. A flag planted in a yard has a subtle charm. You can celebrate the flag and Independence Day anyway you choose but you absolutely have to celebrate. Fly the flag, blow something up, eat a hot dog, participate in any other activities that take your mind off having to cast a vote in the fall. It’s an endless list so get to it. Seeing this flag through shrubs and flowers on someone’s lawn is a beautiful sight and a reminder of the reason for the season.
Flags Might Be Giant
Giant flags, well, they rule. Parking lots, even in newly discovered shopping centers are dull. Liven that space up with a giant flag. Of course to get the natural lighting and the air currents right to make the flag look even more majestic would have taken hours that I don’t have. Just know there’s a giant flag out there, somewhere, wanting to wrap you up in its fabric of stars and stripes. Sigh, if only we were taller.
Uncovered
Was it his bike or one outside his studio all gussied up in Americana? I can’t remember. It’s been over twenty years since I had the chance to interview the Baltimore Glassman for Mole Magazine. Thanks Jeff B.!! I recall having to hide the microphone though. The Glassman had a thing about hidden radio mics. Mine had to be extra well hidden. Not a local, obviously, with that nickname but I got a kick out of unearthing the Glassman’s year round patriotic fervor as these photos were not taken in July.
Get inspired!!
If you’re still with me you can hear my flag poem with music and video by Willard Simmons from the Pittsburgh Orbit.
See what the Pittsburgh Orbit has to offer with their own flag spectacular:
Portland Orbit 