On Saturday, the girls and I made our way over to meet my parents for the Alpine Days Parade. We missed the Highland Fling, so we were wanting to do one last summer event before school starts. And, we thought it would be fun to re-visit our old stomping grounds, see some old friends and take a trip down memory lane.
My first impression was not a good one. The cute, small town celebration has become not so cute, and not so small. I had to park forever away, and walk a mile {which is not pleasant when stepping over people on the parade route and trying to keep track of two little people}. Back in the good ole' days, we could park, walk over to the park where there would be ample seats in the shade, and all of your neighbors and friends were also sitting there. And you knew everybody you saw, including those in the parade. So it was lots o' fun. Now, there are so many people, you don't know anybody sitting next to you, and hardly anybody in the parade. And forget about finding seats in the shade. It's turned into one of "those" parades where people park their goods out the day/night before.
And, I'm just going to say it. There is a different feel about Alpine now. And a different "look". Frankly, it's rather snooty {yes, snooty, not snotty, snooty. Probably a little snotty, too...} It makes me kind of sad, because it wasn't like that "back then".
The one constant, however, is the candy. There are no other parades that can compare to Highland or Alpine when it comes to goodies. My kids love it {and, thankfully, they are immune to the snooty feeling, they just find the fun} and they are fully prepared to rake it in each and every year. You can see that Carly proceeds to bring in the loot, as her mouth is overflowing with sugar {and don't mind the horse poop in the picture--the one thing I hate about parades}.
And so marks the end of Alpine Days for me, I think. I will look forward to spending many future summer days at the Highland Fling. A little more convenient, and home to our little family. I really hope that my kids will grow up looking forward to their hometown celebration like I did.
{And, on a side-note, I'm really sad that there are only 8 more days until school starts. Summer went by way too fast!}.
4 comments:
Ahhh the innocence of childhood. Do you think that is the reason for YOUR fond memories of Alpine Days? However, you are right about Alpine Days having changed and I don't think it is for the better either. Something about the old timers, and how they did it before California invaded. (Some of my best friends are from California and I am glad they are here)
Nice back-stepping mom. :) Are youa state bigot?!?!?! (hehe)
I must be the meanest mom ever...as I am looking forward to the first day of school. Heck, just driving up today to find out who their teachers were...I started doing the happy dance....lol
Hey Megan! I hope you don't mind me leaving a comment! How are you doing? How come I always run into Shane but never you? I saw him at Alpine Days, which by the way I agree with you (my dad and I both had the same discussion you had about Alpine Days being different.... I was really disappointed...) Well i hope all is going well with you and your cute family!
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