I love a parade in a cowboy town.

It's weird going to a parade by yourself. Especially when the people around you are a hard crowd.... not like the people in the town where you used to live. After awhile, I didn't care. I hooted and hollered and cheered for the bands... even though everyone else on the sidewalk just watched them and listened. I could barely believe it. It didn't seem right.

I met Dexter, a tiny little froo froo kind of puppy. I knew he was Dexter because three kids were hauling him around on a leash saying "don't do that Dexter." Or "Dexter, you can't go there." Or simply "Dexter, NO". What kind of place is a parade for a little puppy whose body length is about one twentieth of that of the leash? Puppy was shaking and looking scared. At last! A rescue and the mom picked him up and popped Dexter into her jacket. He was up there for quite some time and ended up falling asleep.

The lady looked at me strangely when I would talk to her, when I would make remarks about the parade. What a world, I thought, when you can't even speak to some lady you're standing next to on a parade route. After awhile, she seemed to accept the idea that I wasn't going to shut up. I made a comment about how dangerous it was that a little girl was standing in an advertising mini van, in the parade, with the side door open as she hung outside and waved. I thought that was crazy. Maybe because the woman with Dexter in her jacket was a mom; maybe because she finally realized it isn't so bad talking to strangers at a parade; maybe because she simply forgot herself: she actually agreed with me. Verbally.

Dexter woke up due to trail riders in "olden days" dress firing blanks out of all kinds of guns, just in time to see some "past it" fat cowboys on their poor horses. After recovering from both of those traumas, the puppy was placed on the sidewalk again to stretch his little legs no doubt. Wouldn't you know it but a family walked past and a tiny little toddler was wearing squeaky running shoes. Step step. Squeak squeak. Dexter was off! After the squeaking little feet. He pulled himself up short at the end of the long leash and back he went into the mom's jacket.

The aforementioned mom's children were all complaining that they were cold. It became like a mantra. I got a little tired of listening to them because apparently, they had all refused to bring jackets. (One becomes privy to this sort of info. when standing next to folks at a parade.) Yet when one of the many fire trucks showed up with firemen brandishing soaker water guns, all those boys were yelling "GET ME!!!". It was too cold outside for soaker guns. But that's what happens at a parade... kids forget that they were whining and what they were whining about.

Dexter fell asleep again. I took photos of the British Army guys, my neighbour's pipe band, and four guys who were dressed suspiciously like The Knights Who Say "ni!". They were hanging out with the entire would-be cast of MP and the Holy Grail. I missed the opportunity to get a photo of Jack Sparrow. Partly because I was absolutely stunned at the resemblance to the REAL Jack Sparrow and partly because he was moving too fast and never did stand still for one second. Merlin had his back to me the whole time he walked down the other side of the street.

A smiling citizen rode by on a huge black bull and I had to remind myself again where I was.

The old cars made me wistful. Beautiful old boats with people who lovingly care for them, performing miracles to keep them timeless; non-stop care and attention; a luxury that humans do not really ever know.

The Rotary Club had a guy with a microphone asking for donations but no one was coming forward for the money so mine went to the food bank instead. I cheered for the shriners and for a military band. I looked at the RCMP's red serge the same way I always do year after year at parades. They GOTTA do something else besides walk or ride. Or not.

I saw the street sweeper about a block away and decided that was a good time to head back to my car.

Bye little Dexter. You were one of the best things about that parade.