Lubbock had an Independence Day parade today, and I attended it. A Lubbock parade is an unusual creature. There are few, if any bands. Today, there was a drum line. After the parade, there was going to be a festival of mostly music and food, and one of the music venues played recorded patriotic music for much of the parade. Some of the "floats" included people who were singing. One of the floats included acrobats performing.
Just about anything qualifies as an entry in the Lubbock parade: Elected or local celebratory individuals of all kinds riding in convertibles; official vehicles from city, state, county, hospital, school entities; vehicles representing churches, schools and businesses; some were real "floats." Most were decorated vehicles, or vehicles pulling decorated or not decorated flat-bed trailers. The street sweepers follow the horse group entries.
Last year, very little was thrown to the participants, and someone said the practice was being discouraged. This year, candy, bagged snacks, T-shirts, wristbands, and flyers were distributed to the crowd. It was a little more festive with these additions.
I was really distressed when the parade began, and the honor guard came by. This consisted of multiple military groups with flags, each including the American flag. Only some of us stood and saluted the flag. I do not blame the children, but I wish the adults knew better. It was the young adults, probably under 40, who did not stand. This is very disrespectful.
One of the entries to the parade was AeroCare, the air ambulance of the area. The helicopter flew over twice, which was a nice touch. I saw the county tactical response vehicle (bombs, SWAT, etc) which I did not know existed, and the county mobile headquarters vehicle, which I vaguely knew existed but had not bothered to consider what it looked like. Someone in the audience commented that he did not know there was a Miss Lubbock County pageant, until Miss Lubbock County went by in a convertible. (I did not know there was a Miss Lubbock County pageant, either.)
The other distressing thing to me about the parade was the end. The final entries had not passed us, and spectators were already flooding the street in front of us. The four motorcylce cops bringing up the rear of the parade were not enough to prevent this. It was not dangerous, particularly, but it was disrespectful of the participants.
But I saw a lot of disrespect in the spectators this year. Late comers crowding into areas already occupied by spectators. People standing in front of a spectators, without regard to the fact those seated behind them had been there before the standees arrived. People grabbing gifts from in front of other people. I had a bag of chips grabbed away from me. My reaction to grab the chips was more defensive than acquisitional. I think someone saw that because a few seconds later, a bag of chips landed on my shoulder.
The parade was just a parade. It was okay. It celebrated the country and the service people: military, government, safety and first responders. So that was good.
The festival was okay. I think they should bring in a carnival of rides, and have craft and hobby booths as well as food and music, but no one asked me.
I spent most of the day at one particular music venue. They had jazz, the Westwinds Brass Band, mariachi music (two different groups played, and one played twice), ballet folklorica dancing, the women's barbshop chorus, and an easy listening ensemble. During the ballet folkorica, I took a break, and got a drink and lunch. The rest of the time, I sat under the tent, listened and enjoyed the music, and knitted.
I also got to spend some time with a dear friend, which was a bonus. We were going to go kayaking, but the wind was gusting up 27 MPH, and when it gets above 20 MPH, I try to stay off the lake.
I have already blogged about the fireworks and the cats. The fireworks have calmed down, which is a blessing.
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