Calgary Stampede Parade 2009

Dad and I arrived at the train at 5 AM to get seats. 5 AM! And there were tons of people lining the streets and reserving spots along the parade route by the time we arrived! We packed along some reading with the folding chairs and backpack of goodies and umbrellas so we wouldn't get bored. The rest of the family arrived around 7:30 AM in time for the pre-parade entertainment. There were some dancers and clowns, military choppers and jets doing fly-bys, and apparently us. The Asian people seated next to us couldn't stop laughing at Judah. We were making chalk drawings, and he laid down for me to trace him on the ground. Of course, since he was moving he got a little bit deformed, but it was a drawing nonetheless.

















This year was better than last. There was a good variety of celebrities, marching bands, floats, and randomness that makes for a good parade. Of course, there were a lot of horses. How could it be Stampede without them? And - a tamed bull? There was a guy riding a bull down the street, and I don't mean the kind that is followed by the term -dozer or is a street sweeper in disguise. Watching a tank roll down main street is always a novelty - I think of my friend Sheldon when I watch it go by. And it's always fun when the vintage cars come out and the old western costumes abound.

















The "Parade Marshall" this year was Mike Holmes. Apparently this was his first time riding a horse and donning a cowboy hat. Who knew? We saw the mayor and the aldermen, some of the Calgary Flames, and a couple of odd entries as well. The Brazil entry had a giant sun that they had difficulty floating under the streetlights. Were they the ones with the steel drum band? I think Micah was more concerned about the large inflatable Flames player making it under the lights.

















I think we all needed naps after that. Getting up that early is hard on a person. I really don't know how people do shift work and switch their hours every few days. I hated working early mornings like that when I did. It's insane, even when we used to get up and out the door to go skiing at that time of the morning. At least this time I was sitting on a chair with the good book in hand (yes, THE good book) in conversation with the guy next to me who was also an adoptive father. I would prefer not to get up that early again in the near future, but the kids' internal alarm clocks have been waking up between 5:30 and 6:00 AM consistently for the last few days. We've ruined them! I guess it's okay. We'll have a holiday from our holidays when we get back from our holidays... and be serenaded by the crickets. Oh joy.