The Fourth of July holiday came quickly after an exhausting vacation in Long Beach (See earlier posts) but every ounce of energy expended returned a doubly pleasurable Independence Day. We started early to prepare to announce the parade entries at our post on Main Street. Emma woke up early with us and seemed to have a great time rockin' out to dad's patriotic music and dancing along with the marching bands.The only trouble with the parade was that it was taking FOREVER! Sometimes leaving as much as 10 minutes between entries. This was not only bad for the audience but bad for me as I was scheduled to play with the band in Founders Park after the increasingly distant end of the parade. It ended up that I took off early, leaving the remaining announcing (the last third of the parade) in the hands of my wife. Turned out to be a good decision since the parade was just ending at the park (some 5 blocks from my announcing post) forty minutes late.
Barring the harrowing final minutes of the parade, I had a good time. I have felt invigorated by the experience as we've been involved for the past few years. I feel connected to the community, I feel like a contributor or even a benefactor. Yes when I consider how much fun it is to be there, to have something so memorable to share with my daughter and to have such a great outlet for a personal hobby, I think we'll be doing the parade as long as they keep asking me to be there.
© Douglas Ingram
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