Tuesday, July 5, 2016

I Love a Parade

Our neighborhood parade was canceled yesterday because of rain. One little boy puttered down the street in his battery-operated jeep anyway. His dad walked behind, shoulders hunched against the drizzle. Someone had fastened white vinyl stars to the little red jeep. The pint-sized driver waved shyly as he soldiered on, grand master of the parade that wasn't.
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The neighborhood parade is one of my favorite holiday traditions. Kids march by, carrying hand-lettered signs, "Happy 4th!," "Stars and Stripes Forever!" Red and blue paper streamers trail off bikes and big wheels. A couple kids skateboard around the edge of the crowd. They wear faded patriotic t-shirts, and their skateboard wheels whiz on the concrete. Dogs, with star-spangled bandannas tied 'round their collars, lope at the end of red leashes.
We drag our camping chairs out to the sidewalk along the parade route and clap and cheer as the kids wave and skate and pedal by. The route ends at the tennis court, where the neighborhood association president hands out freeze pops.
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This year, I cheered for the lone little patriotic driver. I wondered if his dad did not get the cancellation email or if the little boy insisted on  driving the route anyway. Regardless, I am inspired. A red jeep, white stars, and a proud little rain-wet, smiling face...the brightest spot on a dark day, too stormy even for fireworks.

10 comments:

  1. The sweetest story, Lori, that one who didn't want to give it up despite the rain. My grandchildren traveled with me a couple of years ago to visit my brother, & they got to ride in his car in such a parade. They were thrilled! I'm sorry about the rain-what a time for it to come!

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  2. Lori, your slice featured a little boy with a big dream and hopefully his own story to accompany the event. The rains came at the end of the night for me so I was lucky enough to take in all the decorations before they got soaked. Here's to 4th of July memories!

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  3. Hoping the neighborhood can reschedule! We participated in a neighborhood parade two decades ago in Houston, always a fun way to kick off the day's festivities. Hurray for the little guy and his dad! Glad you were there to cheer him on.

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  4. Weather is the one thing we can't count on. Too bad the parade was a no go. Glad the little boy made his own parade.

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  5. I hope you can reschedule your parade. Kids love them, that's for sure! :)

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  6. That little boy (and his father) did not let a little rain stop them! How sweet. I am so glad that his father was willing to let his son do this. I think the little boy was so determined to be in the parade that his dad just did not have the heart to say 'no.'

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  7. That little boy (and his father) did not let a little rain stop them! How sweet. I am so glad that his father was willing to let his son do this. I think the little boy was so determined to be in the parade that his dad just did not have the heart to say 'no.'

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  8. No drizzle will keep this little fella from his parade. Good for dad and good for you cheering him on.

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  9. Glad you were there to cheer.

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  10. Delightful image you captured, Lori, undaunted ray amid the storm.

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