Rhapsodies

I think I can say that this without hyperbole this was my favorite Fremont Solstice Parade. (The worst one being the time I made the mistake of standing next to a very loud sidewalk evangelist who was offended by everything.) I had gotten an invitation from a friend of mine (The same one who brought the Romney Doll to my political drinking group a while back.) The way he had put it I had assumed he just meant we’d find a parking lot nearby and walk over there. So I was just a little confused when he and his wife kept kept talking about food and stopping at a QFC en route for snacks. I discovered that what he had been talking about at was another friend’s spot at a marina right next to the parade path. Which meant we had front row seats with food and beer!

Because this wasn’t at the beginning of the parade path we had to wait  a little bit longer for it to come our way but that was quite all right. Since we were having a great little block party while we were waiting with the aforementioned food and beer and I had lot’s of fun meeting new people. And it was well worth the wait! After years of having to take full advantage of my height three rows back it was nice to watch the whole affair up close in a nice comfy chair.

As always was good starting with the nude bicyclists streaking by in just about every possible color of color the most memorable was one in a Guy Fawkes mask and a female Darth Vader (with a mask a cape and black body paint) Then came the parade itself in all of it’s chaotic home made glory. Marching bands, puppets, characters, the works… The best piece I think was a huge dragon made entirely out of trash. My friend took every opportunity to get participants to pose with the Romney doll. The only down side was a wave of fatigue during the second hour from a combination of relaxing in a comfy chair and too much sun.

But all in all a very nice way to spend the day