Parading Around

Noon today saw the beginning of the however many year’s annual Point Roberts’ Fourth of July Parade. The sky was blue, the air was plenty warm enough, and a goodly crowd of people were settled on their portable chairs and the curbs and sidewalks over the maybe 5-block parade route (up Gulf Road and then right on Tyee to APA Road). Many kids mushing about, in eager anticipation of the candy that will be flung toward them by the parade participants. Their eagerness for that candy makes it seem as if this was the only day of the year that they were allowed to have candy, although we know that is not so.

The parade always begins with the Vancouver RCMP motorcycle drill team. But this year, it didn’t. The Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors the parade, has had the misfortune to misplace virtually all its members in recent months, making the parade and accompanying beach festivities something of a hard go. As a result, the lone remaining member cancelled the beach festivities and did the best possible with getting the parade to happen. So, it was a disappointment, but Heather is to be much praised for getting it to happen at all, I think. No parade would have been a real disappointment. Another thing to work on for next, year, I guess.

So, no RCMP carrying ons, no stilt walker, no music of any kind, no white dog parade, no decorated horses and riders. But, there were other things: the Fire Department with its treasured array of vehicles; bikers from the Red Hat group with umbrellas; a truly funny cadre of imprecision bicycle drill team members, in various and uncoordinated costumes; a tiny, tiny horse walked along by one of my quilting students who is, herself, not very tall; a man walking with a small sign opposing the war (we cheered him quite a bit to, I think, the consternation of our parade watching neighbors); a number of vintage cars from different vintages, with local people known to be local people riding, waving, throwing candy. The Shriners came down from Canada with their truck, but without either their organ music or their tiny cars or bikes, so we had a Canadian flag there, too. A few floats from the local businesses, throwing more candy, sporting more or fewer flags. Pictures here.

It was all right and an adequate celebratory parade. By comparison with other years, less. But that’s going to be true half the time, anyway. Thanks, Heather; and thanks to all the people who walked and rode and decorated. You made sure we had a Fourth of July Parade to remember in 2008. So much better than remembering 2008 as, well, the year we didn’t have a parade.