We could hear the chatter and laughter from the teenagers outside my daughter’s house as they finished putting the final touches on their floats. The local Christmas parade was scheduled to take place from five to seven P.M. Excitement was in the air!
In such a small town, I thought the parade would be finished by five-thirty. I was mistaken! In a town of fifty-nine thousand people, I think fifty-eight thousand arrived at the parade. Hundreds of floats filled the streets. Everything from reindeer, manger scenes, snowmen, Santa and Mrs. Claus lined up to celebrate the season. Ballerinas danced in the street and fire trucks blared their sirens. Police cars and rescue squads joined the fun and amused us for the full two hours. There was even a local bicycle shop who fabricated a sparkling tree from bicycle tires.
Elves filled the streets and danced to the Have A Holly Jolly Christmas. Ghost Busters arrived, in full white gear, as the crowd responded to their song, “Who you gonna call?” They danced to the music and chanted back, “Ghost Busters! Da da da da da da.”
Thousands of people of all ages lined the sidewalks to see the traditional celebration. Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer filled the evening air as his float glided by. Santa’s elves threw candy to the crowds. People hugged each other hello and patted each other on the back. Little kids were hoisted on their dad’s shoulders for a better view. Small town families came together with their kids for a chilly night of merry joy.
This is the America that I love.
We weren’t close enough to catch the candy. I asked two little kids up front if they would catch a piece for my two-year-old grandson. The next candy throw they arrived at our sides with Milk Duds and a candy cane. They continued to deliver candy to him for each and every candy throw throughout the night. By the end of the evening, my pockets were stuffed with nine Jolly Ranchers, eight Milk Duds, six Starbursts, eight lolly pops and a dozen candy canes. There was no room for my chilly hands.
With all that I wrong in the world today. This is what I want to fill my world; I don’t want to hear about murders, terrorism and social injustices that deplete my spirit. I need a month’s reprieve. This is our America that they can’t take away. It’s the heart and soul of our country.
I want to focus on the simple life of small town America. I need the patriotism, the love of fellowman and the every day American filled with goodness to shine light into my world.
I’m reminded of the song, What a Wonderful World.
I see friends passing by
Saying how do you do
What they’re really saying is
I love you.
Yes, it really is a wonderful world in downtown America.
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