Curtis learns about the Canadian Flag from Grandpa
We spent the morning basking in the celebratory glow of a Southern Alberta parade. Well, let me rephrase that...we spent the morning watching a procession of horses, cars, trucks, and trailers throw candy (albeit sparingly) to a hoarde of pushy, disorganized Canadians. With nary a float in sight.
I realized today that tradition is a funny thing. It wakes us up early in the morning to gather together with family members we neither recognize or remember (with one or two exceptions) and sniff the familiar waft of horse manure as it sits on the road and gathers up exhaust fumes. (I feel a little Tevia-like anthem bubbling in my vocal chords...)
But it's in the blood. It's what we do. And, apart from voicing my abundant opinions on what they should do to improve the festivities, I'm sure I will encourage the tradition to continue. Because in spite of it's shortcomings, it's a favorite. It's part of who I am and where I come from.
And besides, did I mention they throw candy? Canadian candy? Awesome. Oh...I mean "Awesome, eh?"
8 comments:
I will be doing this same thing in my home town on Monday. They stopped doing floats years ago also, but last year they had a plane. And that was the big story in the paper. I just had to correct my grammar in my comment because I started three sentences in a row with 'and' or 'but'. You are an english major and may have noticed that. Appreciate the effort.
P.S. We missed you on Tuesday!!
A southern Alberta parade on July 1st? Which one? Raymond? It happens to be the capitol city of the Universe, and you sounded a bit disparaging. Have you no respect? That tradition brings tons of families together every year, and it has never been rained out since 1955 - the Lord always sees to the weather on July 1st so families CAN be together.
Sr. Jones, sorry about the tone of that last comment; I hit post without reading it. I was just wondering about if the parade was in Raymond, as that is my home town, and as you can see, I got a little bit defensive. Sorry. I am Jared and Matt's mother, and I just happened to see the "Canada Day" title and peeked on your blog. I hope you had a good time tho, and the weather was cooperative.
I didn't know you're Canadian! That's v. v. cool.
My mom grew up in Southern Alberta — Taber, in fact. It's the corn capital of Canada (in case you weren't aware of it's awesomeness).
It was a fun parade, wasn't it?
Love, mom
Super fun you got to go and visit the fam! Be safe and enjoy your trip.
This sounds JUST like the parade we went to in our little town in south eastern utah. No floats...just trucks, cars, and tractors with signs on the side. OH ~and crazy highway patrol men speeding down the streets trying to run over the small children scrounging for a scrap of candy... but...festive and fun none the less.
Too bad you weren't there to hear me voice my opinion...Maybe the Lehi parade spoils us?
I remember as a child going to a Raymond parade that was rained out. I'm pretty sure it's not the center of the universe either.
:)
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