Well, that was good. Really good.
Is there a reason all weekends are not three-day weekends? (Or more?) Is there a reason they don’t all include what this last weekend did? Some of the best parts of life and summer seemed to come together in the last three days and make me feel a little more like a real person and a little less like the zombie I’ve been lately. Confesssion: I have not been the coolest person ever these last few weeks. I have let stress get the best of me. As warranted as that may be for all of us at one time or another, it is getting a little old.
And while we’re confessing, I also had a little too much sun, a little too much key lime pie, and got way too excited about a small-town parade. There.
But the parade? It was cute. Not the kind of cute you need to see every year, and maybe not the kind of cute that needs to last two hours, but definitely the kind of cute to remind you to sit back and take things for what they are once in a while.
Like dogs. Dressed up dogs.
And kids dressed up, too.
And horses. And classic cars. And rodeo queens. And marching bands. And clowns. Patriotic clowns.
(Apologies to anyone with a clown fear. He was not scary at all.)
Then there was a jester. Because what’s a Fourth of July without one, right?
For good measure, it’s also important to throw in some fire trucks/engines. Lots of them.
Yes, it was just a little small town parade. Of course, there were also the politicians (no pictures of that, though) and the poor kids that have to follow the rodeo queens and pick up behind their horses. It all could have been considered very boring and mundane. Which is just what I needed. Those clowns and kids and fire trucks were just enough distraction to remind me to step outside my own bubble, my own problems, even for just a day, and see something new. If nothing else, it was a well-timed break. I might even be recharged– a little.
Dingo says:
Oh man! I was hoping there’d be a picture of you on a deck out for 4th of July tractor!
It sounds like a great weekend. Glad you are feeling better.
July 7th, 2008 at 5:52 am
sizzle says:
I usually hate parades but small town parades are fun. I especially love to see how much fun the kids are having when they are IN the parade. I remember having to do that as a Brownie. I liked it then.
July 7th, 2008 at 9:02 am
Danielle says:
Breaks are good. Parades can be OK…I’ve missed them the last few years though. Although I really do want to get to the Pride Parade around here one of these days…I think that’s a different experience!!
July 7th, 2008 at 9:10 am
Mel Heth says:
This looked like fun - especially if you had a lemonade or hot dog in your hand while you were watching it. Speaking of dogs, loved the ones in costumes! So funny! Glad you were able to recharge the batteries a bit.
July 7th, 2008 at 9:26 am
The Exception says:
Small town parades and kids and fire trucks… perhaps that is really what the 4th is about! Not that I minded hanging out on a roof with a bunch of Kennedy Center people, but… I think you had a more relaxing and honest experience)
July 7th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
backofpack says:
I love little parades like that - just like the town I grew up in. We participated in a couple parades when our kids were showing dogs in 4H - they did a little drill team routine with the dogs - it was great!
July 7th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
MN Sunshine says:
4th of July parades.. so great for kids! We had one here too.
Sweet Pea likes events where the cute dogs show up. Nice pictures.
July 7th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
Nicole says:
Cute parade! And, key lime pie - YUM! And, yes we need a 3 day weekend every weekend.
BTW, any time you want to go the Opry i’m game.
July 7th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
dadshouse says:
Great pics - the parade looks fun. Any Shriners in their tiny cars doing synchronized weaving routines? They were always a big hit in the town I grew up in. Afterwards, back on our street, my friends and I would do the same routines on our bikes.
July 7th, 2008 at 11:04 pm
skinny says:
Lol….small town parades are the best. Funny how the older clown carried a stuffed animal dog…
And I LOVE the doggie outfits. too Cute!
July 11th, 2008 at 10:19 am