Go Brad!

Yet another dream come true!
Not only did I get to be in a parade, I got to be in charge of the float and boss people around.
As head of the parade committee, I also was in charge of organizing all 5 local parades in the span of 2 weekends.
Man, what a ride!

We all had a total blast, most of the time.
Between an unexpected death in the family just a few days before the first parade and finding a new lead fiddler, we were definately feeing the pressure.

As you can see, we opted to forgo the equestrian route.
We did not feel any of our horses were parade ready at this point.
You know horses and loud unexpected sounds.
Some horses are used to it after lots and lots of training, or they get a big dose of tranquilizers before such big events.
Since we were not willing to drug our animals, we opted for the next best thing.

Live country music, of course!
My cute nieces Jeni and Jordana we on fiddles, Mr Bird on his coolest ever bass, Mama Lisa on guitar and Justin the Great on banjo.
It was an all out moving Howe Down complete with near deafening sound system!
My job was to walk beside the trailer and giver Otter Pops and American flags (with Brad Galvez stickers attached) to the cute kids in the crowd.

And there he is, the man himself, larger than life.
Two Saturdays in a row we had an early parade and then we rushed to the next local city just in time to sneak in their line up and do it all over again.
The mornings were early (even for us) and the heat and excitement of it all was exhausting.

Baby Cakes (whose not really a baby anymore) had the very important job of waving the flag from the back seat of the truck at all the cute girls.
He rocked!
As you can see, it was too much for my little man.
As soon as we hopped in the truck to head back to our vehicles, he was out like a light.
It seriously only took 3 seconds!

Even so, who can resist a spontaneous post parade horse ride party in grandpa's shady back yard?
Not my little man, he's never happier than he when he's on a horse!

Was it all I dreamed it would be?
Will I ever do something this crazy again?
Were my kids on a sugar high for the next 3 days straight?

Yes, Yes and YES!

Only next time, one parade per year is good for me!

The Impossible Dream

Another of my dreams is about to come true.
Remember this post about how I want to be in a parade?
Well, it turns out that this just might be my lucky year!
My brother-in-law, Brad Galvez (The Great) is the Republican nominee for The Utah House of Representatives on the November 2010 ballot.
During a dinner with the family he mentioned that as part of his campaign he planned to ride in the local parades this summer.
I about fell out of my chair.
In fact I think I jumped a foot in the air and lost control a little (or a lot) and shrieked something about the fact that I wanted to be in his float (or car or riding a horse).
Everyone looked at me like I was crazy, that's me the family crazy person.
It's OK, cuz every family has one, I'm fine with it being me.
Then I went on and on about how much I've wanted to ride in a parade.
I started to get so excited and could already smell the horse poo in the air!
Then it happened!
Brad, The Great appointed me as the head of the parade committee chair board!
I'm pretty sure he made that up just to make me feel good, let's not fool ourselves, it totally worked!
Now my mind will not stop thinking about it.
I have to come up with ideas now.
Should we do a float with sparkly banners and paper mache mountains?
Or should we go simple and commission some cool antique cars?
Then there's the equestrian route.
The Galvez's are huge horse lovers.
We could decorate the horses and carry banners and throw candy to the crowds?
It's so hard to decide.
Maybe we could do all the above, our family is big enough!
What would you do?

Miles and Miles

I decided this week that I have a new dream for next year.

I want to be in a parade!

I want to ride on a float or a fire truck or a cool old fashioned car.

I want to be part of the pomp and parade!

I want to join the celebration and be part of something bigger than myself.

I want to feel the spirit of our great nation and our pioneer ancestors. I have never been in a parade. I think it's time to change that.

When I was a kid I think I may have seen a total of one parade. Then I married Mr. Bird. His family goes to the Pioneer Day parade every year. Plus we go to the 4th of July parade in our home town. Our kids love it. We went to the Pioneer day parade in Ogden this year with Mr Bird's sister and his brother. The kids got to play with their cousins and enjoy a little bit of rich Utah culture and history.

It was fabulous. I watched the faces of the people in the parade and all of a sudden I wanted to be there. I want to go up the street clapping and singing and smiling and waving and sweating for miles and miles.

I want my kids to be a part of it all. I want them to feel the history and learn about why we have them. I want to smell the horse poop and be glad I'm not the one with the giant pooper scooper. I want to make lasting memories with my little ones before they are not so little any more. I want to be talking at Thanks Giving when they are all grown and have kids of their own and I want them to say,

"Remember the year we were in the parade?"

"Ya, remember the huge pile I almost stepped in?"

"That was fun!"

I want them to know what the people on the floats are feeling when they see the parade the next time. I want my kids to enjoy their childhood. I want to be part of their childhood and see their little faces as they explore all these new and wonderful things. I love celebrations. I love seeing other enjoy them too. I love family traditions. I love the Parade!

Did I mention this is how I want to be brought to my grave? The coolest horse drawn hearse I've ever seen.