A Parade, and some Perspective

I was going to just write about Sapulpa's Christmas Parade tonight, but first I have to admit, it finally happened to me. I was shopping in downtown Sapulpa tonight because they were offering special extended hours and some other little perks. I exchanged maybe 3 or 4 sentences with the clerk in one of the stores. As she rang up my purchase, she said to me, "You're not from around here, are you?"

Yes, it was inevitable. I KNOW I have a Midwest "accent" -- this was just the first time that someone actually commented on it. Just one of those little reminders that we are still "outsiders" here. At least she'll remember me if I come back, which I probably will; I like the store a lot.

Anyway, what I meant to write about was the parade. It was last Saturday at 6pm, and I think Amelia had the most fun of anyone -- she is just at that parade-loving age right now. Nick was being the big boy and acting kind of bored, but he was happier when we went to Sonic for milkshakes afterward.

Here are some random observations on the first Christmas parade I have ever been to:
1) Christmas parades are, apparently, a big thing in the South. Every town has one. Hey, it was 50 degrees outside, after dark! And we had ice cream!

2) There were more churches in it than politicians. That would NEVER happen in Chicago, regardless of the occasion.

3) No business, apparently, was too small to participate. We saw the Arby's mascot (a giant oven mitt) and the Quizno's mascot (a giant shake). We estimated that only about half of the town was watching the parade, because the other half was in it.

4) There was the usual assortment of beauty pageant queens, Miss Teen, Miss Junior Teen, etc.; most of them riding in convertibles and the like. But Miss Creek County was DRIVING a John Deere tractor! In her formal gown and crown, doing the parade wave and everything. That would never happen in Chicago either.

5) Santa was at the end, of course. However, since he was riding in the lift bucket of a fire truck that actually had two lifts, there were two Santas, so one could face each way. Try and explain that to your kids (luckily, ours didn't ask)!