Sunday, March 13, 2016

Anticipating the Wearing of the Green!

Even on a cloudy day, threatened by rain, there is nothing like a parade to lift the spirits.  DC's annual Saint Patrick's Day Parade was held this morning, and, as has become tradition, I usually end up slicing about it here.  Over the years we have experienced snow, sunburns and rain - today was just gloomy, thank goodness.

After dropping my Irish dancing daughter off at her parade staging location, my son and I proceeded down Constitution Avenue to the American History Museum.  There were no shortage of curbs for us to perch on today, and Patrick and I spent the early part of the parade chatting and people watching as well as observing signs of spring.  Daffodils were exploding in the grass, brighter than normal because of the gray day.  Behind us, lines snaked out the doors as people waited to get through security into the museums.  And our green-enshrouded, fellow parade watchers kept leaning into the road, checking to see if anything was coming.

The National Anthem signaled the start of the parade and was quickly followed by the piercing sirens of the DC Police force coming towards us on motorcycles with sidecars attached.  We didn't have long to wait until the DC Fire Department Pipe and Drum Corp marched by - the bagpipes sounding beautifully haunting. St. Patrick walked by, looking chilly in his leather strap sandals, but jovial just the same.  I nudged Patrick reminding him of the special connection he has with this Saint of Irish legend. Finally our Irish Dancer jigged into view along with her dance friends and teammates.  Swirls of bright dresses and curls of all colors swept by us dancing in time with the music.  Toes tapped and smiles abounded on all the dancers, the drivers and the audience alike.

Once she danced by, our job was to get to the end of the parade fast to pick her up.  Patrick and I raced down the street, dodging parade watchers and criss-crossing the street to get closer.  Once past the grandstand in front of the White House, the dancers pull to the side of the road and take a rest - or at least, that's what I thought they did.  When we reached Rebecca she and her buddies were dancing the Cupid Shuffle on the float, no Irish moves to be seen.

She was ebullient as we walked away from the float - and the rest of us were feeling good too.  Nothing like a day at a parade!

1 comment:

  1. That sounds like a great day! How fun that she could dance, no matter what type! : )

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