You know you're in Westwood if, on the Thursday morning after Labour Day, you see empty lawn chairs lining the streets in preparation for the parade that evening. Amazingly, the chairs remain there waiting, unstolen for the occupants to arrive for prime parade viewing.
Coming from Mobile, AL, where Mardi Gras originated, I am used to parades where you need barricades to keep people from rushing the floats to get the best spot to catch goodies thrown from the floats, horses or whatever. This is a different type of parade. It is strictly for viewing...not for throwing candy, trinkets or beads. In fact, throws are banned. I kind of enjoy the more relaxed neighbourly atmosphere.
However, this year, I just wasn't feeling it. I have been tired. Toting my twenty plus pounds of baby, plus the baby in residence in utero, and keeping up with Archie in a crowd of people didn't really appeal to me. Especially because the parade was to take place while Phillip was out of town. So no adult help. My plan was not to attend this year.
As it turns out, the parade abstinence was not was not to be. The Cub Scout Pack Archie is involved with is, shall we say, less than organized. Habitually, I find out about events at the last minute, or after the event already occurred. While I readily admit I don't do everything in the right way or at the right time, I consider myself pretty organized. You have to have to be to have the schedule we keep. Organizations are, by the very makeup of the word 'organization', supposed to be organized. Or at at least that is my expectation. If only I were king, it would be so.
But not this particular Cub Scout Pack. So I don't know why I was especially surprised when at midnight the day before the parade, I get an email stating that Archie's Cub Scout Pack was to march in the parade. But I was. Actually, I was pretty peeved at the whole thing. Most organizations fill their paperwork out a year in advance to march in this parade. So this really shouldn't have been a last minute deal. Surely SOMEONE knew this was going on BEFORE midnight of the day this was to occur!
So I can't tell you how furious I was at finding this out at such short notice. It did occur to me just not to participate. I had about four miles of walking ahead of me with baby on my back and baby in my front with no help whatsoever. But I knew Archie was just dying to be in the parade. I realize I could've let Archie walk without me, and just be with the Cub Scout Leaders. But people that can't figure out how to send an email with proper advance notice of an event probably won't do a good job keeping up with my sweet boy.
I thought I had an ace in the hole--one family I would've trusted to walk with Archie. The Pastor's husband from my church, but it turns out they weren't even attending the parade. *sigh* So I resigned myself to my fate. We were walking in this parade, like it or not.
Archie had a great time! When we got done, he asked if we could go back to the beginning and start again! YIKES! As it turned out, it was more speed-walking than walking, and I had a difficult time keeping up with the boys. I guess parades move a lot faster without candy, trinkets and beads to muck everything up. Once we got going, it was pretty fun walking and waving at people we knew. So I ended up having a good time in spite of myself. Here is Archie walking in the parade. No, not walking. Turning 'carton wheels', as he calls them. He did this for a good majority of the route.
And, of course, a photographic still:
As much as I complained about the parade walk, I must remember that I walked the Appalachian Trail when I was more pregnant than this. It was mostly the cubmaster's being so inconsiderate that pissed me off so much. It was all I could do to not kick her in the butt all the way down the parade route! As a friend commented on my Facebook rant, 'just smile and wave'. So that's what I did.
Here is a picture Archie took of me and Lawrence.
Just as a point of reference, here is what a typical 'float' looks like. Think Joe Cain Day parade years and years ago, before it got all fancied up. Just folks decorating what they have (truck, trailer or whatever) and paying a fee to get a spot in the parade.
I was properly pooped that evening after all that smiling and waving. In the end, I'm glad I didn't write the nasty-gram email that was on my mind to write to the cubmaster. Archie had a terrific time and ultimately, that's what was important. Lawrence had a good time too. I figured out he is a Man's man. When we were done being in the parade and sat by to watch the remainder that was behind us, Lawrence clapped at all the pretty girls (cheerleaders, baton twirlers, gymnasts, etc) and growled at all the motorcyclists and other loud noises.
Archie's already talking about marching in the parade next year. Hopefully with less shenanigans!
2 comments:
Jennifer, Archie just looked too cute! Those shorts and shirt remind me of something "50ish," kind of like from the old "Dick and Jane" readers or something. and the cartwheels. .GREAT!! :) Glad it all turned out ok in spite of the annoyance. That late notice would royally tick me off and I SO would not have gone. You get the mama prize for that one.
Oh my gosh, how I'm laughing at the notion of your pregnant self kicking somebody's butt down the street. I mean, laugh out loud funny. Thanks for that!
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