Small Town Parade

I love small town parades.

Let me be precise.

I live in a small town.

Unlike some people who most likely do not live in small towns themselves, I do not romanticize the smallness of it.

I do even love my small town all that much. I do not love the one crowded grocery store, or the overwhelming likelihood of running into acquaintances while dashing in for a carton of milk. I do not love the lack of convenience, or lack of movie theater. The schools are not great. I like anonymity and diversity. Both of these are in short supply in most small northwestern towns.

Moving on.

There is something about our small town parade, perhaps like a thousand others nationwide (I can't be sure.) I look forward to it. Year after year. We walk down to the end of the crowded street (I do not love it enough to actually stand IN the crowd) and wait with anticipation for the police car to wail it's siren and begin.

In case you couldn't read the sign. I enlarged it for you. I am good like that.

It is much like Stephen King is narrating in my head. The way he writes each character, making them so full of humanness.

Best politics ever. Cleaning up after the horses.

Like the act of choosing to walk or ride down the middle of the street; not glamourous, just people really; simply to be seen, makes them so... human.

I want to grin, and wave and clap, "I see you! You are seen!" And I do.

Swantown, Olympia

My hubby and I took our anniversary trip a bit early this year. Ok, a month early. Blame Living Social. We decided to take a break from our usual coastal explorations, and headed to Olympia, WA. We stayed at the Swantown Inn B & B. Swantown is a lovely Victorian, with great Craftsman details, and I forgot my camera. I got in a few shots with my old, old phone. Let's see what Photoshop can do.

Olympia feels kind of rock and roll to me. In the style of a 90's grunge band. We hung out in a record store, and bought a Jack White Album, and Norah Jones latest. A dark break-up album that she wrote with Danger Mouse. There were some great thrift stores, and there may have been a flannel shirt purchase. There was even a jam band. We listened for about 3 songs. Sorry. Jam bands are kind of boring. Even good ones with saxophones, and flutists, and a lead guitarist that looks like Jesus.

There were also street kids hanging out in the warm rain, coffee, and there were bookstores. Olympia's vibe may have been influenced by my choice of reading material. A novel about a rock station with Vampire DJ's. Maybe.