The Ritual of the Parade...

This morning, very early, Alexander and I performed what is an annual ritual. It starts out with an early morning hunt. We equip ourselves with as many chairs as we can handle and, this time, a very long piece of rope. We get up before the birds are waking. And we drive. We scope the entire downtown Kenosha area for the exact spot to pounce! Then, after we're satisfied that we have the place - we set up the lawn chairs on the spot for watching the parade later on in the day. Thus begins the Fourth of July Independence Day celebrations. The parade here is on the 3rd. Go figure.

There's method to our madness. You see, there's much to be considered when choosing the right parade viewing spot.

First, you ask yourself, which way with the sun be coming from at parade time. This is an important question to ask and it was learned after one horrible year when we faced the sun and then spent the next week in agony from the sunburn we received on our face and legs.

Second, how far away from the spot is the nearest restroom. (and also, is that restroom a "port-a-john" or a real, honest to god restroom!). Also, very important question to ask! Probably more important now that we're all older and our bladders can't hold it as long!

Third, consider the area closely and ask, "How many doofus, chucklehead, yahooligans will be wandering through this area come parade time?" Another lesson well learned. We used to sit on 60th street, near uptown Kenosha. After a couple of years of our Patriotic music, floats and high school band having to compete with the "F" bomb and the "N' word being yelled around behind us, we moved. Free public events sometimes bring out the dregs of Kenosha behavior, unfortunately.

So that's the criteria! I think we got a good spot this year! And I came back home and slept some more from the early morning hunt so I'm good to go!

Happy Fourth Everyone!!

I love a parade...

Our July 4th Parade was on July 6th this year...I dunno...don't ask me why!
Here are some pictures from the day.




My sister, in all her July Fourth finery sitting astride my nephews Harley looking toward the horizon.




Some of the fine, old Victorian homes along the parade route. Actually, that pink one is now a funeral home. Eerie, isn't it?




Ooh, an AMC Rambler! My dad used to have one of these.



An homage to the raising of the flag at Iwojima. These are actually reall people who are made up to look like a bronze statue. They hold this pose for the entire parade route which lasts two hours.



A colorguard twirling their flags. I think this was a high school band from Minnesota that came to march in our parade.


We had a great time. Beautiful weather and a great shady spot to sit and watch it all. Our home town parade isn't much. A few high school bands, some colorguards, an honor guard or two from the local Naval Training Base, a few clowns, good people and just a good way to spend the day! I've always loved parades. I don't know what the appeal is for me but I do!