Friday evening I will be at a gallery opening and festival for Day of the Dead alters. Saturday is the Chicano festival with all the lowriders. It's the most wonderful time of the year.

My community is about 50% white - some of that first generation immigrant - 35% Hispanic and the rest mostly Asian. Diwali and the Day of the Dead overlap this year - I want a yard covered in marigold garlands (Diwali) and sugar skulls to be part of the decorating contest.