A participation prize??? All I won was a lousy participation prize???

I believe I was the only adult who participated in the July 4 sandcastle building contest on our beach today.

For sure, I can tell you I had not built a sandcastle in decades. Many decades. But for about 20 glorious minutes, I played in the dirt, by myself, and just created something without giving it much thought. I just made it up as I went along.

For some reason, that felt freeing.

And honestly, I was like, “This is the best you can do, Patti???”

But the best part of participating was being near the groups of kids who were building their sandcastles nearby.

I overheard their conversations. They were consulting with one another like it was a critical life event. Someone was time keeping because they were on a deadline to get it done.

They were working hard, side by side, and they were so diligent in their efforts to create the BEST sandcastle. There was a lot of communication and collaboration.

I heard them including younger kids who were kind of standing off to the side, looking kind of lost.

To be honest, I haven’t heard a group of adults work so well together in years.

They were amazing.

So, participation prize it is, for me. But for next year, I have a better idea of what the competition is all about.

And if we just turn over the keys to our nation to the sandcastle builders of the world, America just might be all right for another 250 years.

Happy birthday, USA. Happy birthday.

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