I spent yesterday walking with Catherine in the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Tucson. It was lots of fun, but I had some seriously aching muscles last night!
Now, this is the first parade my kids have ever seen “in real life.” We watch the Macy’s Turkey Day Parade every year. There aren’t many parade opportunities in AZ so I can't wait to hear what my kids will think about their first parade! Oh, and yeah, Tween Caveboy...someone from the Tucson Irish Community got a shot of you at the parade! lol!!
Later, we’re hanging around talking about the parade and Connor says, “those Dancing Queens were hideous.” I’m thinking how cute he is for calling the festival queens “Dancing Queens.” Apparently, I have been overplaying my ABBA cd lately. Trying to be the “nice police,” I tell him beauty is in the eye of the beholder and to stop being such a critic. He says, “Mom, they looked like dudes.” Chilly shakes his head yes…that indeed, they did…because that’s what they were…dudes….in drag….”dancing queens”….I laughed and thought that was weird, but hey, they were called the “Mash Potato Queens” and I figured with the whole potato thing, that was somewhat Irish.
Connor goes on to say, “wasn’t that weird when those kids ran out in the street to hug the Stormtroopers and Darth Vader?” HUH? What the heck kind of Irish parade were Cat and I marching in? Did we somehow end up on the Deathstar? And I had no idea Darth Vader was Irish!
Then Connor and Chilly start talking about the low-rider trucks cruising the parade route. (well, we are in Tucson…but I haven’t seen too many Irish families bouncing up and down the city streets in those…)
(no, he doesn't not have a flat..he is making his truck "walk"...)
I am flustered! What about the real festival queens? Where were the marching bands? Where were the silly clowns spraying water on the crowd? Where were the city council members riding in the back of convertibles waving at the crowds? Where were all the Moms pushing their sweet darlings in decorated wagons and strollers? And only a handful of beautiful floats in the whole 90 minute parade!? (which by the way, makes for a very long parade...yawn...) What is going on?! This wasn’t how I pictured my kids watching their first parade! (Insert heavy sighing here…)
Overall, it was a fantastic day filled lots of Irish fun! I am just waxing nostalgic for the parades of my youth. I wish I could hop on a plane and head back “home” (Ohio) for the upcoming spring and summer festivals and parades. (Insert more heavy sighing…)
What are your favorite parade memories? Do you have a favorite parade that you watch each year?
Have a Happy Monday!
p.s. (more give away hints coming soon!!)
p.s.s. Still not ignoring you all with my comment love...after tomorrow, we will be all done performing for a while and I can get back to my regular stalking activities!
Comments
However, give me a Disney parade anytime! Those are the best and I adore them.
I'm jealous..you rode with Ronald McDonald! Lucky! :)
Stormtroops are definitely Irish. I'm sure that they were all wearing green underwear under those suits!
get back to stalkin.. where are your prioritys... yeah so I can't spell.
Your parade looks wonderful, I tried clicking on caveboy, but it wouldn't enlarge:( Cat looks so happy. Glad things are going to slow down a bit for you!
(I used to live in Rootstown, Ohio.)
And now... well now, I can't even stand to watch the Macy's turkey day parade or the Rose Parade - which happens seriously like 30-45 minutes away from my city!
That looks like it was a fun one!
And we have a little something out here called the DooDah parade....Drag Queens, Dikes on Bikes, all kinds of weirdness....it is in West Hollywood, after all!
The only parade I ever saw in person was one up in LA somewhere because my brother was in the Young Marines (don't ask...). I remember getting up at o'dark thirty to get to the parade spot and asking for food because I had no breakfast (I was 5 or 6 at the time).
That's all. LOL
;P
Oh and they usually have fresh lemonade, funnel cake, and are a blast. Ah, I love parades.
I'm so jealous! :)
Sorry I've not been in touch...been a bit under the weather. ...Can't wait to hear more about the give-a-ways!
xxx