1. Do you like parades? Not really. My antipathy comes from being dragged to the local ones when I was a kid. Now that attending is my choice, I don't mind them as much. But I can't recall when I ever went out of my way to attend.
2. Rate the following parade attractions in order of affection:
*. horses; 1
*. marching bands 4
*. floats; 2
*. anything that gives away candy: 3
*. politicians ride in cars? 6
*. antique cars/tractors; 7 *. fire trucks; 5
3. Have you ever been in a parade? Yes. I marched with my Cadet (Girl Scouts) troop. I was very proud of my sash. I had lots of badges. Also, as I walked by, my mom ran up and grabbed my hand. I was embarrassed at the time, but it's a nice memory now.
4. Do you bring lawn chairs to parades? No. My father complained about people who do this. My father complained about everything related to the parade: we couldn't park near enough to the route, people took the best seats with their lawn chairs, the bands played too much pop and not enough patriotic music ... I felt like screaming, "If it's so bad, why did you make me come?" In fact, I'm sure at one point I did scream this. I was the only one in the family who wasn't somehow in the unspoken pact to just let my dad complain and cause unnecessary tension without addressing it.
5. Does it bother you to have to park a long way from the parade, and then walk back to the car afterwards? I don't have a car, so no. But this was one of my dad's pet peeves. I don't know why, really. If you're going to the same spot at the same moment as many of your neighbors, why would you expect to get the perfect parking spot?
6. Do you wave at people you know? Yes
7. At people you don't know? Yes
8. Do you take pets -dogs particularly - to parades? No
9 Have you ever been to a big parade in person (Rose Bowl, Macy's, etc)? No
10. Do you attend more warm weather or cold weather parades? Warm.
My dad was the polar opposite of your dad. He loved it all! However, I'm sure my daughter would sound exactly like that if I took her along. She is one of those who finds fault with everything.
ReplyDeleteParades are such a big deal around here that I feel like the lone ranger in my dislike of them.
ReplyDeleteYou are right in your assessment of me and parades. I had to work them - so many of them - that I grew weary of them. I can't remember when I last went to one simply to watch.
ReplyDeleteSounds like your childhood memories are very painful.
ReplyDeleteI liked the small town ones. Ones where you could walk home afterwards.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry about your Dad having issues that spoiled parades for you, but that thing with your mother was so darn sweet!
PS: Girl Scouting was my salvation.