2020 has managed to accomplish what no-one else could in the 20 years I’ve owned my home.
IT MADE ME TAKE MY FLAG DOWN! Not by choice, however.
Backstory:
I bought my condo in Irvine, CA in 2000, and one of the first things I did was install a flagpole on the upright support of my front steps. I’m in an upstairs unit, so the flag was kind of a land-mark I could use to direct people to my home. I didn’t bother to check the CCR’s of my complex before I did it. I mean, who would object to an American flag? I found out years later that I was supposed to get an “architectural approval” before putting up the pole. Wups. Oh, well. better to seek forgiveness, right?
I flew it every day, rain or shine. I bought a little solar LED light unit to keep it properly lit. I’ve replaced the flag 3 times in the 20 years I’ve been here.
Last night, the Santa Ana winds started blowing in So. Cal. Not an unusual occurrence. They are fast, heavy windstorms that blow down from the desert when conditions are right. Happens accouple of times a year.
These happened to spark a wildfire near where I live. The fire downed powerlines and caused the electricity to go out where I work. So I ended up working from home today.
As I was sitting at my desk, around an hour ago, I heard something fall on the stairs. I looked out, and my flag was lying on the steps, pole and all!
The winds, which might be the worst I’ve seen in years, bent the flagpole, and snapped the cast aluminum bracket in half!
8 days to the election. I need to replace the flag (it was getting faded anyway) the mount, and the light in time to welcome DJT to his second term.
frikkin 2020…
4 replies on “2020 Strikes again: This time it’s personal!”
Great story, not what I was expecting! I am glad that you are not, as I had surmised, locked in a battle with your CCR about it.
Lol, “stuff happens”. You should be grateful you have only had to replace your flag three times since you put it up. I have to replace mine that many times a year. They just wear out, become tattered and unserviceable.
Every year we have a fall bonfire to burn up the detritus that falls to the ground on the yard, tree trimmings, scrap wood and firewood rounds that are not split-able, etc. The pile is usually about 10 – 12 feet tall (that’s as high as I can go with the loader bucket on the tractor) and 15 – 20 feet around. At the beginning of the bonfire I and my buddies (and their buddies, most of us are military or ex-military) hold a little ceremony by playing taps and “surveying” no longer serviceable flags by placing them reverently in the fire …
Then with many toasts to our friends who are no longer with us, we all smoke cigars and drink until the fire burns low.
This year will be the 7th such event in a row. 2020 can KMA.. 🙂
God bless you. A bonfire! and reverence to the flag.
It’s really been one for the record book,hasn’t it? As a former california resident (grew up in burbank) ,you have my sympathy.