Well, my boys of summer lost 1-0 last night. It was a one hitter and that hit didn’t come until the last of the ninth when Nava, the $1.00 wonder, hit a single. Pitching duels are well-played games but are boring for spectators. We love to see balls, hit by the good guys, sail out of the park. We want a show.

Today has a chilly breeze with a here again gone again sun. I went out for brunch then waited around for two hours for the Seaside Festival parade to begin. I had my iPad so I was content just sitting and waiting. The road was filled with cars, and the line looked endless. This holiday weekend is the last hurrah for the Cape, and it seems as if much of the world has come to enjoy it.

The parade was so hometown. The only outside music came from UMass Lowell’s band, and they must have thought they’d taken a wrong turn somewhere. St. Pius Elementary School had a small band, and I didn’t recognize what they were playing. The local high school sounded good as did the two pipe and drum units, both local. The floats defied description, but I was able to figure out the theme It had something to do with summer as all the floats had umbrellas, beach toys and blown up sharks or whales. Most of the floats seemed to be filled with people throwing candy. There were several antique cars and, of course, the girl scouts and boy scouts. No hometown parade is worth its salt without scouts. A cheerleading school strutted its stuff and cheered their way passed me. The fire department started and ended the parade with sirens and bells.

The crowd seemed pleased, and I really enjoyed the parade as it reminded me of my hometown’s Memorial Day parade which hasn’t changed a bit in all these years. Today I got to wave at the people I know who were riding on floats or in cars. My friends and I chatted as they marched by me. I clapped for the bands and the floats. It wasn’t a long parade, but it was my childhood revisited, and I was happy.