It's a Parade

It was great fun to see the Celebration Days Parade this year. It brought back so many parade memories, from attending and marching in parades. I marched in New York with my 4-H troop. Later, as a High School band member in Tucson, I marched in a heavy wool uniform in 100-degree heat. In Flagstaff, where I went to college, I continued in the band and marched in ten below zero weather. In Los Angeles, I was just an avid spectator past my marching days. A Los Angeles parade would include out-of-work actors, Uber drivers, Door Dash cars, and a lot of scooters.

However, before marching in community parades and still in New York, my parents braved the insanity and took me, my brother, and my sister to the Macy's Day parade. Brave, because we were young (around seven, five, and three), the crowds were enormous, and the weather cold. We were restless after being in the car, the subway, and finally walking to the parade area. I'm still amazed they didn't lose any of us in the crowd. Giant balloons were soaring overhead with floats with singers and dancers beneath them. We were filled with awe and excitement to get a glance at the Parade Marshall that year, Shirley Temple.

The day was topped off with lunch and hot chocolate at the Horn and Hardart automat. A "restaurant" that consisted of walls of food in little cubbies behind glass doors. To buy food, you would look through the windows, put in your coins, and open the door with your selection. Once you took your food and closed the door, people in the back immediately restocked the empty cubical.

Although the parade in Waitsburg last month was not as enormous as the Macy's Day parade, it did beat some of the parades I marched in.

The Tucson Independence Day parade was brutally hot, and our band always seemed to be behind the slew of rodeo horses. Trying to march in perfect formation while dodging horse manure is never fun, but we all love a challenge.

Although the Celebration Days event did not have the glitz and glamor of the Macy's Parade, it did make me appreciate living in farm country. I know farming equipment has evolved, become safer and more efficient. However, looking at the size of the equipment in the parade, was jaw-dropping to me.

When I drive the local highways and see the farmers on their combines, working on the sloping hills, they look like miniature figures. Up close, wow! Those are big machines controlled by a single person. It's impressive and inspiring. As I look at the finger I cut using my food processor today, I'm glad it's not me driving; who knows what limbs I could lose.

I was also impressed with the horsemanship I saw, especially the youngsters. With all the noises, whistles, alarms, and activity going on around them, it amazes me to see the control the riders have over these enormous animals. I took horseback riding lessons when I was young. The horses were probably one hundred years old and on sedatives, and it was still scary.

Watching the children's excitement at the parade (or is it the candy) is always entertaining. I did learn that there is an annual parade in the Seattle area that features nude bicyclists; now that would be entertaining! I wouldn't even need tons of candy thrown at me for me to add it to my list of favorite parades.