Wednesday, July 04, 2007

Ba-Da-Da-Da-Da-Da-Da-Da-Da-Da-Da-Dum

Pappy at the July 4th Parade, Takoma Park, 2007-07-04Happy July 4th, all youse folks in the US of A. You'd think, living as we do on the cusp of our nation's capitol, that we'd be headed into DC to take advantage of the Folk Life Festival, concerts, and fireworks on the Mall. Nosiree, I'm not headed into that mad house. We live in the wee town of Takoma Park where we have our own slate of activities.

We took Pappy this morning to his first parade. Living in an alt-dot-odd city, the parade had it's peculiarities, to wit:

  • To give you a better idea of the magnitude of floats in our parade, we aren't talking Mardi Gras by a longshot.
  • A women's tackle football team came by handing out football cards-- I got a 4 foot 11 inch 145 pound inside linebacker's card.
  • We had not one, but two steel drum bands-- we're a pretty diverse community.
  • The belly dancer float was followed by the Afro-Asian Kung Fu club.
  • The Morris dancers were replaced by a Revelers choral group, but it looks like the same bunch of people.
  • The nearby college's gymnastics club came flying by.
  • For some reason this dump truck full of kids went driving past-- I'm not sure I entirely understand that message.
  • These guys in great costumes come by each year.
  • We had a local dog training group in the parade.
  • And, being a progressive community, we had Low Wattage Bulb Man, assorted peaceniks, the School for Gifted Fish, and folks on stilts dressed for the rising waters of global warming.
  • Pappy was fascinated by most of it, but he did not like the marching drums.

Next, we have the block party where they block off our street, have a kid's parade, and everybody sets up grills. Finally the evening ends with fireworks at the local middle school. That's better than some stinking National Symphony Orchestra and firework display over the Potomac River, innit?

6 comments:

Duke said...

I've never seen a parade before! What fun! You're so lucky Pappy! What great pictures!

Love ya lots,
Maggie

Bella said...

Thanks for sharing the story - it looks like a very diverse community parade - what fun for Pappy. I'm with you on the drums - don't like them, nor fireworks, nor thunder.
Wuffs
Bella

Frasier said...

It takes all sorts to make the world go round!! In your case the sress is on all sorts!!
That was funny!

Nat said...

Mike,
I submitted, but who knows what happened after that... Doesn't look like it made it through the machinery.

Maggie, Bella, Frasier,
It was a fine parade. Full of pomp, circumstance, and dogs.

DarrellH said...

That was a great post! I particularly liked the "peaceniks" thing. Hehe. :)

Nat said...

DarrelH,
Don't get me wrong. I'm a closet peacenik, I just don't wear a little train and march in parades. I have my sheepishness to uphold.