86. Watch a Parade

For those of you not in the Bay Area, this weekend was "Pride" weekend. Today was the pride parade. There is something about parades that brings me back to my childhood. (Although, there never was have been a Gay Pride Parade when I was growing up.)

I remember distinctly on parade day, getting up early and going with my grandpa and he would have his spot on Main Street at The Doughnut Shop (yes, that was the name!) He would back his truck in and we'd sit on the tailgate and watch the parade. I should mention that my grandfather frequented this particular doughnut shop daily for years. There a group of farmers, that at about lunch time would meet up there and discuss the latest news, gossip and trade fish stories. I would sometimes get to go with him, and all the men would tease me and ask me questions, basically made me the center of attention. Which what 5 year old doesn't love that.

So back to the parades, we would sit on the tailgate surrounded by these guys and they'd talk about what life was like in their younger days. I think this is where I got my appreciation for stories from another time. ie. listening to old people talk. There would be high school marching bands, and the local VFW, and of course the Shriner clowns. Looking back, every parade was really the same, only the decorations changed. This one act, of shutting down traffic, and marching down the street brought the whole town together. There would be generations gathered in the same place talking story.

So what does this have to do with Gay Pride...well there is nothing like a parade to bring a community out and together!