Happy Memorial Day

Every year my town has a big parade on Memorial and it is one of those local events where everyone turns out and all the local organizations and groups march along, the town police drive slowly flashing their lights, and the firetrucks sound off their sirens and horns for the town's children.  It is not big on floats, although there are a couple, but it is big on community spirit.  The young people at one of the local churches sell refreshments, and a large sample of the town's children participate:  the scout troops, the karate and marshall arts classes, the dance students, everyone is ready to march and perform and the crowd of mostly local residents is happy to cheer and applaud their efforts.  Really, it is just right in terms of parades, and it was just right for a small child's first parade. 

So this Memorial Day morning Owen and Grandma capped off a lovely morning of playing and counting and helping Grandpa gather up the cardboard boxes for recycling with a trip to town to watch the annual Memorial Day Parade. Mom was able to join us as she returned home from the walk-in clinic, where she found out she has strep  (poor Mom),  just before they closed the main street town so the parade could begin. 

Owen had a good time watching all the hullabaloo which included some dance and karate demonstrations, balloons, flags, candy, and the aforementioned fire trucks.

Grandma noticed that the high school band ambled along in a way that would have never been acceptable for band members  at her high school in Texas, where marching drill was an important part of band culture.   But the parade was fun nonetheless despite the lack of precision and fanfare.

After the parade we all convened at home where, sun-dazed and hungry, we fell upon a luncheon of gazpacho and Bouchons au Thon  and then collapsed, ready for the first lazy summer afternoon.