This morning my boys were in their first Christmas parade. Their scout pack had a "float" they decorated and rode on for the small-town parade (which didn't even have a Santa Claus! How can you have a Christmas parade without Santa Claus?) so after waking up at the exact time we were supposed to meet our pack to drive to the fairgrounds, I drove like a bat out of hell and made it there in time to...wait.
And wait. Sigh.
But we did eventually get going, and the baby even got to ride on the float with his brothers, which he loved.
The part I did not love was having to walk alongside.
When I was in Christmas parades as a kid, the only people who got to ride on a "float" were the Shriners with their strange little hats with tassels. All us kids walked. And what did our parents and siblings do while we walked? Yes, that's right: stood on the side of the street with the rest of the spectators and waved and cheered for us when we went by.
So naturally that's what I thought the baby and I would be doing. I even contemplated bringing a folding chair so we wouldn't have to stand through the whole parade.
Some of the moms rode in the Suburban towing the trailer. Some of the dads rode on the trailer with the boys.
And the rest of us walked. Oy.
It wasn't that long, about four miles, which isn't bad if I'm out walking the track. But I don't like cold. Or having to constantly shout "Merry Christmas!" and various Christmas carols. I'm not really fond of waving, either, although at least I was wearing a sweatshirt, so my un-toned arms didn't flap around while I was Miss-America-ing at the spectators and bending down to pick up candy that had been thrown in the street by previous floats to give to kids on the side of the street.
It was the boys' first Christmas parade, and they had a good time. The best part for me was seeing several Shetland ponies dressed in reindeer antlers and pulling little carts disguised as sleighs, and some undeniably beautiful whippets dressed in their Christmas best.
Next year, however, I'm claiming a spot in the vehicle. I'm sure the exercise did me good, but I can think of other (warmer) ways to lose this weight.
About Me
- Soonerchick
- I have a Bachelor's in Psychology, a Master's in Human Relations, and a Ph.D. in telling people what to do. I raise children, dogs, cats, and hermit crabs and cultivate crabgrass and pretty weeds. I am teaching myself to cook, not because I love to cook but because I love to eat. I love to travel, read, and take pictures; I also like to write, so you'll get to read a lot about all the aforementioned subjects plus about anything else I happen to feel like sharing with you. I'll take all your questions and may even give some back with answers if you're lucky and I'm feeling helpful (or bored.)
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