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Everybody loves a parade ... well, sort of
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I was never a normal little kid. I made schedules of my days that were blocked out by half-hours.
I hated Jell-o, and I refused to get dirty, ride my bike down hills or drink out of hoses.
And I absolutely would not attend Ralston’s Independence Day parade.
Most kids loved the event. They got to sit out in the sun all day, see exciting floats and have candy thrown at them for free.
I, however, never managed to get into the spirit.
Small-child me cried when the fire engines roared past, sirens blaring, because it was too loud, and I yawned as politician after politician rode by in the back of a car, campaigning for one office or another.
But the straw that broke the camel’s back was the notion of portable toilets.
I may have been young, but I was old enough to know what germs were. My parents eventually realized this was a fight they would not win, and they gave up on trying to take me to the parade each summer.
I was, however, pulled back in now and again.
A fateful phone call from Linda Richards landed my brother and me the honor of representing Meadows Elementary in a small marching army of children that was intended to thank the folks of Ralston the year the money for the high school’s renovations was approved.
I vaguely remember getting my toes run over by a wagon and hitting a small child in the face when I attempted to throw him a piece of candy.
Beyond that, Ralston’s Fourth and my Fourth were separate celebrations.
As I became a teenager, all that changed. I was big into theatre, and it slowly pulled me further and further into the real world of Ralston.
I was soon selling fireworks at the Curtain Raisers stand and attending street dances with my friends. I even marched in a parade again, this time with the cast of Ralston Community Theatre’s production of “Jekyll and Hyde.”
I began to see how people could appreciate the parade, and I noticed how many families were in attendance together. I realized this was a tradition for a lot of folks, even if it was one I had never much cared for myself.
This year, I’m going to witness the parade from yet another angle – as a summer intern for the Recorder. Yes, that’s me taking pictures and jotting down notes.
Although I may never understand how some families can begin staking their spots as early as July 2, I finally understand why many families find this to be an important part of their summers and their lives. Traditions are beautiful things when they bring people together, and Ralston’s parade does just that.
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| Independence Day Celebration Schedule of Events | Ralston PD ready to help |
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The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of omahanewsstand.com.
Brenda Fader wrote on Jul 5, 2009 10:50 AM: