“I’m ready to go anywhere, I’m ready for to fade, into my own parade, cast your dancing spell my way.”
Today is rainy but warm, nearly 60°, but it looks like a November day, a dreary November day. Yesterday’s wind blew leaves at an angle, slanted sideways. Everything is now covered in the brown, dead leaves. My deck has disappeared under oak leaves. I hadn’t covered the deck table but the time has come.
I am watching a parade from Plymouth. I love parades, the colors, the floats and the bands. When I was a kid, I marched with the drill team in all sorts of parades. I have vivid memories of those parades, some great, some not so great. The worst parade was the Halloween parade. Eggs were thrown, and I remember one slid down my leg into my boot. I marched on egg shells. I could hear the crunch until the shells were pulverized. St. Patrick’s Day was another parade we dreaded. It was cold and the partakers of green brew tried to march with us. My favorite parade was July 4th. People set up their chairs in the morning along the parade route to reserve the best spots for watching. My family always went to my father’s friend’s house along the parade route. Everyone at the party watched from the porch. As we marched by, they started yelling my name over and over. I was both embarrassed and pleased. They used to make us march in the parish May procession. We were almost last. Behind us was only whoever was crowning the statue of Mary. We were told the parish supported us and marching was the least we could do.
A quiet week is coming. I have uke practice on Tuesday, the Christmas book. The big event is, of course, Thanksgiving. I’ve ordered a turkey dinner with all the fixings. I’ll watch the parade just as I did every year when I was a kid. I’ll even buy the same parade snacks, but I’ll skip the mixed nuts even though I have an old wooden bowl with the silver nutcrackers. I’ll have a few tangerines and definitely M&M’s. I’ll wear my pajamas, but I won’t sit on the floor in front of the TV. I’d never get back up.
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November 18, 2023 at 2:44 pm
Hi Kat,
The dreary cloudy weather the last couple of days has given way to a gloriously sunny and warm afternoon. The high should be around 70°. One of my daughter’s favorite things is to swing. I’m sitting in the car, sun roof and windows open watching her swing at one of the local parks. I’m taking some vacation time Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
My daughter is also coming to our house Wednesday evening for the holiday. Our Thanksgiving plans include, the Macy’s parade, the National dog show, and the Dallas Cowboys football game. This year they are playing the Washington Commanders. I liked it better when they were called the Red Skins. Now I have to pretend it’s the Cowboys verses the Indians. I guess the Atlanta Braves haven’t changed their mascot name because Braves is somehow less derogatory? Since none of us like turkey that much, my better half is preparing a pork loin roast. Of course we will have many of the traditional sides. I prefer cranberry sauce directly from the can. 🙂
I also won’t get on the floor. I remember that TV commercial for First Alert, where the elderly woman calls on the device, “Help, I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!” Now I don’t chuckle at the ad, but I understand the meaning of the commercial. My Apple Watch can detect a fall and call 911. However, my spouse made me set it up where it calls her phone instead. She told me she would be embarrassed if the EMT came to our front door. 🙁 I only agreed since she know CPR.
November 18, 2023 at 6:21 pm
Hi Bob,
It rained all day. The wind has blown trees bare. It was an ugly day. The net few days will have days in the 50’s and nights in either the low 40’s or high 30’s.
I watch the parade and the dog show, not the football. I’ll have my turkey dinner as I like turkey. I do like pork roasts and have had baked one for Christmas every few years. When I was a kid, I thought the can impression on the cranberry sauce was a decoration. I like either homemade or canned. When I had company for Thanksgiving, I served both.
I have figured out to get on all fours and hoist myself up, but I have been lucky as it has been a while since I’ve fallen. Knock on wood!
November 18, 2023 at 7:38 pm
During the pandemic, I tripped while going down the stairs at work. My mask was too high on my nose and it blocked part of my vision. I missed the bottom step on the landing and I fell down. Luckily, I could hoist my self up with my arms on the bottom steps. My legs seemed semi-useless. It was a surprise, but also a reminder that in my mind’s eye I’m still 40. 🙂
November 18, 2023 at 10:53 pm
The last time I fell was outside. I tripped over something I didn’t see in the dark. I couldn’t get up. I was on the small stones where I parked my car. The stones were sharp. Finally I scooted on my back to the brick walk and was able to get up. It took a while.
November 18, 2023 at 11:18 pm
I always carry my phone just in case I fall. The Apple watch requires the phone.
November 19, 2023 at 4:48 pm
I’ve mostly fallen at home, but, as I said, it has been a while. I am so very careful. I hope I never fall where I can’t get up.