The music was great, the weather was great, everything was great.

The finale was held on a busy downtown street corner instead of indoors as planned. Outdoors is where these songs were always sung, although we lacked the cries of seagulls, the slap of waves on the sides of the ship and various creaks and clanks Voices were lifted and songs of old were carried down the streets of an old seaport town, and maybe a few ghosts joined in.

One of the most remarkable things I noticed was earlier in the day, on this same corner. I turned around to see the faces of people assembled. There were those I recognized, and those I didn't. Some undoubtedly came for the music, but some probably just tarried, mid-shopping, to see what the heck was going on. They were singing. Kids were singing, and people carrying bags of shopping-booty were singing, and bikers in leathers who'd just parked big, loud bikes out front had sat down, and were singing.