The kids were up early and dressed to the nines in their red, white and blue. Clarke manned the griddle and made us a blueberry pancake breakfast. And I was rushing around like a mad woman to pack up the car for a long day full of plans.
Our first stop was downtown Boise for the annual Independence Day Parade, along with Alison and her kiddos. As luck would have it, we secured a spot right in front of the Capital bldg. Clarke joined us for little while before heading out to golf 18 holes with friends from work.
When I was a little girl, I remember going to several parades. They involved creatively decorated floats, marching bands, fire engines, rodeo queens, singing, dancing and celebration. So, I admit confusion by Boise's interpretation of a July 4th parade. It started out okay. Military vehicles (Brock's eyes were as big as saucers and he had a mile-wide smile as the trucks passed), veterans on motorcycles, a bagpipe marching band and some antique cars, but then things got very strange, or rather political. And suddenly the parade became an uncomfortable commercial for candidates and ideologies; many of which had NOTHING to do with celebrating out country. LAME and TASTELESS (and yes, I'm talking about the Republicans, the Democrats, the Occupy Boise squatters (all 20 of them) and anyone else peddling their ideologies under the guise of freedom of speech, rather than doing something to celebrate our country. And then I saw this....
"Support Boise's Parade! Donate Here!"
Um, not on your life. NO way, NO how!
Not until your parade participants are schooled on patriotism.
Luckily, I wasn't the only one left feeling like the morning had been lost on politicians and protests.
I overheard several in the crowd muttering my same sentiments.
We picnicked at the Grove and the kids joined dozens of other brave kids running through the fountains. Drenched, full and worn out from the sunshine, I loaded Brock, Jamin and Cami into the car and headed for the cool of a dark, air conditioned theater. We spent the afternoon watching Merida decimate the sterotypical, beautiful, helpless Disney heroine as she fought to protect the kingdom she would inherit, from a legendary beast, in 'Brave.' It was thoroughly enjoyable!
At home, I wrangled my little firecrackers for some photos...
Overall, it was a very hot, busy birthday celebration for the greatest country ever!
