Monday 21 December 2009

seventy-six trombones

Okay, there weren't THAT many. Actually, I'm not even sure there were any.

We were at the front part of the parade. The First (and hopefully annual) Christmas Parade for the town nearby, and the kids were dancing with excitement. Rosey had never seen a parade.

(Yes, it gave me pause too. In thinking it over, I think she's right. Deplorable.)

Cass was just excited to wear a Santa hat and toss candy at the crowd, and fool around with his buddies. But he walked with me behind the float his sister and most of the other kids rode on pretty steadily, and hurled candy canes at small lookers-on with frightening abandon.

Schools are out for Christmas break, so it was the Parent Support Group for our village school that put together the float. It was quite the holiday scene: red-flannel Union-suited Santa, Mrs Claus looking merry and twinkling in her mob cap and shawl, an elf petting reindeer, and a group of children, all decked out for the holidays, ringing bells and shouting Merry Christmas to all.

In front of the float? A fire truck. Behind? One of the churches had a float. There were dogs and hockey players and Shrek Claus. There was a gingerbread house float and the Kiwanis, pulling a holly-bedecked French Fry booth. There were fire trucks galore, the RCMP, and a mock-up of a Christmas tree lot.

In short, there was everything. Everything a small-town parade needed.

It was wonderful.

And I can't wait can't wait for next year.

16 comments:

Bronwyn said...

That is awesome! Being part of something like that would have been amazing.

Jen on the Edge said...

That sounds like so much fun.

And you know what? I'm not sure that my girls have ever seen a parade either.

ree said...

What a blast! Congratulations to all of you for bringing back the small-town Christmas parade.

Loth said...

Well, I think the least you could have done is to have saved the parade until July so we could join in! (That wouldn't be unrealistic, would it?) Harumph!

Pam said...

Well, there are about 365 sleeps till next year so you'll just have to calm down and stop jumping around.

Happy Christmas!

Bon said...

Dave comes from a tiny town and the parades there sound like yours...everyone is essentially IN it, rather than just watching. i love it. we go every Canada Day.

Bon said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Woman in a Window said...

I like this, a Christmas parade that actually takes place around Christmas. Imagine that. Most of them seem to be in November...

Yours sounds perfect.

Merry Christmas to you and your bunch.
xo
erin

Unknown said...

That sounds wonderful. The stuff of fond childhood memories.

Oh, and I sure hope there was plenty of hot cocoa for the participants afterwards!

Port Girl said...

Just another great memory for our kids Jess...so glad we got to share that one together......

Mike said...

I miss parades. We don't seem to have any of the small ones here anymore. Not like when I was a kid. Happy Holidays to you and yours from the sunny So Cal gang...Mike

Badger said...

Oh my gosh, how much do I LOVE your new blog banner with the ducks (on ice?).

SO MUCH.

And my word verification is "neeked". COME ON, NOW.

Elizabeth said...

Fun!
The Olympic torch is coming through our town next week, big excitement.

Happy Christmas!
Thanks for the warm wishes, the same to you and yours.

blackbird said...

Happy and Merry!

apathy lounge said...

A Christmas Parade?? I'm thinking my kids would have loved that when they were youngers.

Jessica said...

daysgoby, Your blog is really eyecatching and Interesting, I suggest that u should go for blog advertising and marketing. There is a website called blogerzoom.com which will promote your blog through all networks + Will do article marketing + Classified Marketing + SEO + Give u Blogging Tips + Will Connect ur blog through all networking & bookmarking sites + Will give u money upto 100US$ from contest & many more at very cheap prices and see how u enjoy a lot of traffic while blogging

A couple of big blows

 Snow, that is. My province has been hit hard this year.  We're still digging out from the St. Valentine's day storm, and we might f...